Minister Taraba Orders In-depth Personnel and Financial Audit at SHMU

Bratislava, April 8 (TASR) - Environment Minister Tomas Taraba (a Slovak National Party/SNS nominee) has ordered a thorough personnel and financial audit at the Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute (SHMU) following the government meeting on Monday. "I want it to be a leading institution, but the reality is that it's been losing one contract after another. We have a long road ahead of us to improve things, and I'm ready for that," said Taraba. According to him, SHMU has great potential for growth. SHMU employees have warned of a crisis at the institute that threatens its professional integrity, operational capacity and international reputation. They highlighted forced lay-offs, budget cuts, staff disintegration, professional deterioration and a loss of trust in the institute's leadership. As a result, they addressed an open letter to the SHMU leadership, the Environment Ministry, the Government Office and the public. SHMU temporary general director Ivana Herkel is set to meet the leadership of the Environment Ministry this week, followed by meetings with representatives of SHMU's trade union and a petition committee. lin/df