Panic rather than epidemics, no more shipbuilding in Gdynia and Szczecin yards and OECD’s harsh words against Poland
'More panic than epidemics,' headlines Gazeta Wyborcza commenting the increasing number of patients looking for medical help in clinics and hospitals.
Even a light cold is already a signal to see a doctor and the result is that clinics are bursting with people, doctors have no time to examine all patients while laboratories do not have enough personnel to complete tests in time. ‘Were it not for the media buzz around AH1N1 virus’ , Gazeta quotes a doctor form one of Warsaw's clinics, ‘the majority of the patients would stay put in bed, eat garlic and aspirin and then visit a doctor to get a sick leave from work.’
Patriot missiles will be stationed in Poland writes the Polska daily. It took fourteen months to wind up the negotiations concerning the deal on the status of the US troops in Poland, the so called SOFA agreement.
This means among others, writes Polska, that 2010 may see Patriot missile deployment in Poland since the Pentagon envisages it in its next year's budget.
Following tough negotiations the US has agreed that their troops will be stationed in Poland on the same conditions as in Spain. That means that the soldiers answer before Spanish courts for any breach of the law committed off duty. Only some several dozen US soldiers will arrive in Poland for the maintenance of the Patriot missilies winds Polska.
There is no chance to continue with ship building in the Gdynia and Szczecin shipyards, writes Dziennik Gazeta Prawna. None of the investors is interested in buying the whole shipyards, only parts of the yards ' property in on auction.
Five companies are taking part in the tenders with the Gdynia shipyard going on sale on November 26, the Szczecin yard a day later.
Dziennik Gazeta Prawna reminds that this is the second bidding for the yards. The first proved to be a total fiasco since the only investor taking part in it , withdrew at the last moment. The Qatar government fund Qatar Investment Authority paid the guarantee in May and then disappeared.
The OECD criticises Poland for avoiding the reform of public finances, damaging the pension system and ignoring budget problems writes Puls Biznesu.
It is the first such rash criticism of Poland by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. OECD prognosis are that in 2010 the deficit in public finances will reach an 'unexpected level since the beginning of transformations in this country' .The organisation condemns Polish authorities for their idleness and points that the speeded up process of privatisation is only 'pushing the problem aside.' The OECD opinion is shared by many analysts in Poland, who point that there are no government actions aiming at limiting the deficit, while any attempts of reforms are vetoed by the head of state.
And the Super Express reminds of the latest sensational news from the football field. Former head of the Polish Football Association (PZPN) Michal L. was charged with fraud, carrying a maximum eight years in jail if found guilty. Prosecutors in Poland's south-eastern city of Wroclaw leading a wide-ranging probe into corruption in Polish football have accused Listkiewicz of ordering the illegal transfer of seven million zloty (1.7 million euros, ) from PZPN coffers.Liskiewicz was released from custody after paying 60,000 zloty (14,600 euros, ). (ab)