The new PDS Tondraha Razaha. "This is not a luxury, it is a responsibility," emphasized Tondraha Razaha, new president of the special delegation (PDS) of the urban commune of Toliara. His inauguration was announced by Toliara's prefect, Bruno Ibramdjee, during the official handover ceremony from deputy mayor Albert Leda to the new PDS, held in the main hall of the commune yesterday. According to the law on resources of decentralized territorial authorities, election procedures, and the organization and functioning of their bodies, the new PDS serves as principal budget administrator for the authority. The PDS announced it would examine the commune's financial resources. "Priorities include addressing unpaid salaries that have troubled staff for months. Next comes accountability to taxpayers, city sanitation, and waste collection. We also intend to closely examine the illegal constructions proliferating in the city of sun," he stated. The PDS positions itself as a "consensus and compromise seeker" with illegal occupants in the city of sun. "We must examine each case and try to find compromise. We must not upset the population's sensibilities," added Tondraha Razaha. He appealed to the city's stakeholders to support the municipality in restoring the image of a city drowning in garbage, lacking street lighting, and with disorganized markets. The Atsimo Andrefana region, with support from private operators and the regional public works directorate, has begun rehabilitating major city axes on behalf of the commune. The two vice-presidents of the special delegation, Grégoire Veloson Randrianandrasana and Serge Vital, attended the inauguration ceremony. However, law 2021-010 of August 5, 2021, modifying provisions on decentralized territorial authority resources, raises questions about one vice-president's status. "...The vice-presidents of the special delegation are appointed from state agents serving in the concerned authority..." The first vice-president is a teacher-researcher and head of the Chemistry department at Toliara University's Faculty of Sciences. Serge Vital has never been a state agent. He is a three-time Madagascar kick-boxing champion, former French military member, and presents himself as an entrepreneur and young politician. He was a candidate in Toliara's 2024 municipal elections.