Last year, I wrote a column about how there appears to be little accountability in government for gross negligence, as shown by the response to the debacle over the rollout of the Obamacare website and billions wasted or lost in Afghanistan and Iraq. Egypt has shown that this is not just a problem in the U.S. Egypt’s Minister of Antiquities, Mamdouh Eldamaty, is under fire after rehiring a company named Shurbagy for restoration of one of Egypt’s oldest pyramids after the firm caused damage and major deterioration to the very same structure in an earlier botched job.
Shurbagy is accused by critics of causing serious damage and the collapse of a section of the famous Step Pyramid of Djoser, located in the Saqqara necropolis. Critics add that the company had no experience in restoring archaeological sites and that all six prior contracts for archaeological projects are under investigation. However, Eldamaty just gave it a new and major contract.
The Pyramid of Djoser was built by the famous builder Imhotep and dates back to the 27th century BC and is 100 years older than the Great Pyramid of Giza.
IN 2011, a British team was working to restore the structure and reportedly prevented a cave in with a huge inflatable balloon. Here is an account of the amazing project. Then funding was cut.
Before becoming the minister, Mamdouh Mohamed Gad Eldamaty was a Professor of Egyptology at the Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Arts, Ain Shams University in Cairo.
Source: Higher Learning
I wonder if the Egyptian government went to the Legislature and got approval of this project or if their President pulled an Obama and just did it on his own Executive authority.
It was the “This olde house” people what dunnit.
Follow….
Maybe they are a subsidiary of Halliburton…. It seems we hire them to do something and they screw it up …. Then they get a contract to clean up the mess they created….
John,
No, that’s not it. Its tourist trade and antiquities are always a big deal for Egypt. The officials in the department are just notoriously corrupt.
When I travelled to Great Britain and saw all those Egyptian artifacts in the British Museum I was astounded at the thefts. Then when I went to Egypt and saw the museums and the manner in which they keep art I was glad that other countries had some things and might protect them.
Wasn’t the Arab Spring wonderful?
Egypt is the military and it has more important items on its agenda. Of course, it has the perennial coups to conduct and duly elected democratic governments to overthrow, with U.S. approval. Now it has Libya which is in complete chaos and has lost 12 very large airliners, the Sinai and its new regional mission to “winterize” the “Arab Spring” assigned by Western interests. I mean this region is way too Springy, huh? A little Springier that people expected, huh?
Darren – good one!
I’ve never seen a FLW home, except for on TV. It would be interesting to actually tour some.
Property taxes can really be prohibitive. I live in CA where property taxes are high. Prop 13 helped prevent the elderly from being taxed out of their homes when they appreciated over the years. Liberals frequently try to get rid of Prop 13. The latests attempt is trying to remove Prop 13 protections for businesses. They actually think that someone could stay in business if his property taxes doubled from one year to the next, which was actually happening. That was why Prop 13 was enacted. They believe that it will have no affect whatsoever on doing business in CA.
But, they also think that increasing minimum wage to $15 will have no affect whatsoever on small business or jobs in CA. “Californians deserve a raise” also means “Small businesses deserve a pay cut!” I’ve listened to interviews in which they said that raising the minimum wage would make a franchise owner who makes $95,000 actually lose $180,000 a year. But the problem with Liberal Tax and Spend philosophy is that they do not analyze cause and effect, and they frequently harm the population they try to help. For example, when DC tried this, many Big Box stores cancelled plans to open locations there, taking all those jobs with them. There is already a documented exodus of businesses from CA. I read articles all the time written about businesses that are leaving.
A radio host said, “It’s like they’re telling Tessla, don’t go! We’ll raise the minimum wage so you have to pay even more to stay here!”
I have some Liberals in my family. They are so kind-hearted, and just want to take care of everyone. When I ask them about cause-and-effect, such as jobs drying up, and how a business owner will make ends meet if his labor costs just doubled, and how he will have to raise prices on all of us, they have no answer whatsoever. They just think something will work out.
Fiscal conservatives want a vibrant environment for entrepreneurs and small businesses, where there are opportunities and jobs aplenty for everyone. Liberals want to mandate everything. Instead of helping someone move up the ladder, they want the bottom rung to pay enough to support a family of 5 on a single wage in a middle class lifestyle.
Karen – the guy who owned the iconic ‘Falling Waters’ home sold it because he couldn’t stand the noise of the falling water. We have many FLW homes and buildings here in the Phoenix area. I have been in a few of them and worked in one of his buildings.
The contract was awarded to the highest briber.
That’s sad and disappointing. Government procurement systems typically overpay and under deliver, around the globe, because it spends OTHER PEOPLE’S MONEY and does not have enough accountability.
New Zealand did a fantastic job cleaning up procurement, among other things.
Paul,
A lot owners tout alleged FLW protégé’s in the design of their homes to boost the sales price. If you are in Oak Park, Illinois, take the FLW home tour. Very interesting.
rafflaw – thinking of making a trip to Chicago next year to see the museums. Could make an extra stop. Thanks for the tip.
Living near Wright’s home in Spring Green, Wi. I have toured many of his buildings, including Taliesin. I’ve read much about Wright. PaulS lives near Wright’s winter home in Scottsdale. We apparently both have the same view on the tiny, narcissistic architect?
I see incompetence is rewarded by the Muslim Brotherhood just like it is w/ their benefactor, Obama.
Paul,
There’s a Frank Lloyd Wright style home for sale in my area. It’s owned by a jazz musician. He’s getting killed by the property taxes. Here’s the description:
$2,600,000, 8 Bedrooms, 6 Full Baths, 2 Half Baths Single Family
Taxes are $59,000, Active, Built in 1960, Englewood, NJ
ARCHITECTURAL MASTERPIECE! DESIGNED BY PROTEGE OF FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT.EXTRAORDINARY ONE-OF-A KIND HOME W/FABULOUS LR/GR/RM W/MASSIVE STONE FIREPLACE, FDR, DECKS, GREAT FOR ENTERTAINING, GUEST QUARTERS, LAVISH HOME ON EAST HILL OF ENGLEWOOD. LIBRARY, MUSIC STUDIO, GRACIOUS DINING RM HOUSE DESIGNED FOR FAMILY AND FORMAL ENTERTAINING. TWO BDRM STAFF QUARTERS, PLUS GUEST SUITE W/BATH. ELEVATOR. HOME HAS A LIBRARY AND MUSIC STUDIO. SEPARATE, EXTRAVAGANT, TWO BUILDING TOTAL RECREATION CENTER WITH KIT, SPA, SAUNA, THEATRE AND OVERSIZED ROSICA POOL. HOME SURROUNDED BY LOVELY DECKS, GROUNDS W/ ROSE GARDEN. THIS HOME WAS BUILT FOR FAMILY AND LAVISH ENTERTAINING. EXTERIOR IS AGGREGATE.
Glen – they don’t mention which protege of FLW designed the home. Wonder which one it was. The FLW school of architecture is losing its accreditation. This will be the 2nd time that has happened.
To call Imhotep a builder is to call Frank Lloyd Wright a builder. Imhotep was an architect, engineer and the real father of medicine.
That being said, the Egyptians got rid of the former Minister of Antiquities because he was too closely aligned with the old political regime. They deserve what they get when they bring in the 3rd team.