Offer to Suðurkjördæmi: Let's build up jobs, housing, services, and transportation

Statement of Sósíalistaflokkurinn in the elections to Alþingi September 25, 2021, submitted August 5:Offer to voters in SuðurkjördæmiLET'S BUILD UP JOBS, HOUSING, SERVICES, AND TRANSPORTATION THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CONSTITUENCY

Today, a large portion of residents in Suðurland live with unemployment and poverty. In Reykjanesbær alone, unemployment at the end of July was 14%, despite national unemployment having decreased.

Housing shortages have led to a significant increase in rental prices, especially in Suðurnes and Árborg, which has greatly exacerbated the region's problems. Hundreds of apartments in Reykjanesbær, Selfoss, and Hveragerði have come into the ownership of speculators who have inflated rental prices.

At the same time that significant population growth is occurring and tourist flow is increasing again, healthcare services in the constituency are being reduced for efficiency reasons. Infrastructure such as transportation facilities have reached their limits, and a comprehensive strategy for tourism development is completely lacking. All of this means that poverty has increased while services have decreased. It is time for radical changes.

SOCIALISTS' OFFER TO VOTERS IN SUÐURKJÖRDÆMI:I. Large-scale development of social housing

Terrible mistakes occurred when hundreds of apartments were sold from public ownership to speculators in the rental market. Bjarg íbúðafélag has, however, done a good job, but more can be done if it is to suffice.

Socialists want large-scale development of non-profit housing in the constituency, especially in urban areas. People need to escape the vicious cycle of rental costs, which often exceed 50% of people's disposable income.

II. Greatly improved healthcare services

Socialists want to utilize the development taking place in urban centers and the influx of tourists into the constituency to greatly improve healthcare services for residents. Consideration should be given to tourists, both domestic and foreign, and healthcare for seniors and disabled individuals should be greatly strengthened. Furthermore, it must be ensured that a doctor is on call in all major population centers with permanent residency, and that residents do not have to travel long distances to access basic healthcare services. Healthcare services should be free of charge.

The working environment of the healthcare system is a vicious cycle. Staffing in healthcare institutions is at a minimum, while the number of clients is at a maximum, which creates an inhumane working environment that cannot be considered acceptable. A clear policy on staffing healthcare institutions must be adopted with the aim that workload alone does not prevent people from taking jobs there or being driven away from them. Healthcare institutions should be attractive workplaces where staff are able to provide the best possible service to clients. The constituency has all the facilities to operate good healthcare institutions. They need to be activated and manpower sought to utilize them.

III. The quota system should be reorganized

The transfer of quotas in fisheries should be abolished in its current form. The quota and decisions regarding it should be linked to the communities so that residents are no longer dependent on the capricious decisions of large fishing companies.

A complete reorganization of the regulatory framework for handline fishing is needed.

IV. Accelerated transportation improvements

It is long overdue for the widening of Suðurlandsvegur. Construction has proceeded far too slowly, and much work remains undone. The new Ölfusárbrú needs to be expedited, as well as the widening of single-lane bridges, transportation improvements in Mýrdal at Gatnabrún, improvements to Þrengslavegur, and so on.

We are entirely opposed to private projects in the road system, which are always less favorable in the long run, with all the risk borne by the state while the profit remains with private entities.

V. Environmental protection and tourism development

Nature conservation and protected areas are part of the environmental policy of the Socialists. The lower part of Þjórsá should be protected, and natural gems should be in public ownership. All arrangements for protected areas within national parks should be made in consultation with all stakeholders with the aim of not hindering activities, ensuring everyone can enjoy nature, and preserving it. A visitor fee to the country should be introduced, which will be used for development in the tourism industry.

VI. Municipal mergers

Socialists believe that decisions concerning the country's communities should be made locally. Cooperation between municipalities is good, but care must be taken not to move decision-making power too far from residents. The municipalities in the country need to decide for themselves if there is a will for mergers. It is a dangerous development for communities across the country if all problems are to disappear by becoming a larger entity. The municipalities in the country numbered in the hundreds before the turn of the century but are 72 today. From this, it can be inferred that municipalities and their residents will decide for themselves when a merger is the answer. We should create a foundation for municipalities to be self-sufficient.

VII. Restoration in agriculture

Socialists want to reduce the gap between farmers and consumers. Between the farmer cultivating their product and the consumer buying it in the store, there is a huge gap that results in low producer prices for farmers and high prices for consumers. The only ones who profit from this process are the intermediaries; that profit never returns to society. By reducing their number, we make the system fairer, more flexible, and increase the opportunities for small production units to operate.

Agriculture needs to be made attractive and a desirable profession that people see opportunities in, for example, through increased innovation grants for farmers, favorable loans for projects, and providing discounts on electricity for greenhouse cultivation, to name a few.

To combat the decline in the number of farmers, it is necessary to prevent individuals and companies from accumulating farms and other land for ownership by imposing residency requirements or other restrictions.

Icelandic agriculture is struggling. Agriculture is not only tied to agricultural policy, but agriculture is also a regional development policy. It is our policy to keep the country populated, and agriculture plays a key role in that.

Approved at a meeting of the election committee of Suðurkjördæmi and confirmed by the executive and policy committees of Sósíalistaflokkurinn August 4, 2021.