Each minister to get loss-making enterprise

The Council of Ministers of Belarus zealously fulfills Lukashenka's new orders.

Each member of the government will receive a problem-hit enterprise under personal responsibility, Prime Minister Mikhail Myasnikovich said today. This measure is set to implement Lukashenka's order he voiced out in his address to the “parliament” and people, AFN news agency reports.

“In compliance with the requirements of Lukashenka, each member of the government will receive a troubled enterprise under personal responsibility within a month,” Myasnikovich said.

The initiative targets big enterprises with about 15,000 personnel and an average pay of 1.5 million rubles.

“This is a shameful performance for executives. Most enterprises belong to consumer goods industry. This state of things is s serious drawback in government's work. Top officials in regions and ministries are to deal with the problem enterprises and carry personal responsibility for them,” Myasnikovich said with indignation as if he had not known about such enterprises before Lukashenka's statement.

Lukashenka is said to have ordered Myasnikovich to cut the “Gordian knot” at the cotton factory in Baranavichy.  Deputy PM Syamashka received a flax processing factory in Orsha as punishment for often visits to Lukashenka's office with an outstretched hand. Deputy PM Rusy is reported to get a worsted cloth factory, an old and/or a new one.