Vandalism of Kosovo Public Property Condemned

Within months of installing 500 garbage bins across Pristina, the municipality has been forced to replace 50 of them after they were destroyed by vandals.

Agim Gashi, director of the city's public services, said it was a symptom of the lack of civic sense in the city, which is also suffering from a spate of manhole cover thefts. “Those responsible for damaging public property are hooligans," he said.

The Daqa company from Ferizaj is obliged to replace the manholes and maintain them for 12 months, according contract. 

Gashi said he was disappointed that a project which had been demanded by citizens is proving so problematic. “This is a larger problem,” said Gashi, adding that the capital faced similar problems with a range of public property.

“How many manhole covers have we replaced in town and how many continue to be stolen?” Gashi asked. “I am just angry that we have to go back to the same projects and spend the money again."

Gashi said he feared some people in the community were clearly not interested in protecting their own surroundings “Everything starts from your home,” he said, noting that the municipality has been trying in vain to create community groups across the capital that would take care of their areas.

“You can’t even find someone from a building where some 40 families live who is willing to protect their environment and the building,” Gashi complained.