Ca Mau: Strengthening trust at the grassroots level

The schedule for receiving citizens is announced at the headquarters of the Party Committee of Hiep Thanh Ward, Ca Mau Province for people to clearly understand.

In the last days of October 2025, the atmosphere at the government agencies of Ca Mau province was more tense than usual. The challenging reality was pointed out at the thematic meeting on October 24 about the alarming increase in complaints, denunciations, etc. that went beyond the level of authority.

"Shortcut" applications

In less than four months (from July 1 to October 24, 2025), Ca Mau province received more than 2,800 petitions and recommendations from citizens. It is worth noting that these petitions "flowed backwards".

Instead of having their complaints resolved immediately at the commune or ward level, people chose to send them directly to the highest level. Of these, 1,170 petitions and letters were sent to the People's Committee and provincial leaders, an increase of about two times compared to the time before the province's merger.

Of these, the Provincial Party Committee Office received and processed 357 petitions, an increase of 81 petitions compared to the same period in 2024. Why do people choose the path of "skipping levels" instead of knocking on the door of local authorities?

According to comrade Nguyen Binh Tan, Head of the Internal Affairs Committee of Ca Mau Provincial Party Committee, the sudden increase in petitions and letters shows that people have lost confidence at the grassroots level, so they have bypassed the first level of resolution, the commune and ward, to seek intervention from the highest leaders.

Deputy Chief of Office of the Provincial People's Committee Kieu Trung Tinh expressed concern about this lack of trust, warning of the risk of losing security and order when people unite in large numbers to put pressure on provincial-level citizen reception agencies.

When the grassroots Party leaders are not really interested and their mediation capacity is limited, then people "jumping the line" is an inevitable consequence.
Vice Chairman of Ca Mau Provincial People's Council Bui Tan Bay

But after all, trust is not lost, but eroded by indifference, as shown in the report of the Ca Mau Provincial Party Committee: Up to 38/64 ward and commune secretaries do not organize or have not proactively received people.

According to Vice Chairman of the People's Council of Ca Mau province Bui Tan Bay, when the leaders of the grassroots Party committees are not really interested and their mediation capacity is limited, then people "jumping the line" is an inevitable consequence.

More seriously, Secretary of the Ca Mau Provincial Party Committee Nguyen Ho Hai pointed out a dangerous mentality that exists among administrative officials. That is, the mentality of avoiding responsibility. Instead of using the law to resolve the matter, officials push the matter to their superiors or abuse the mechanism of "asking for direction" to avoid personal risks.

It is this confusion and avoidance that makes the picture of complaint and denunciation settlement in Ca Mau become dark.

For that reason, the Secretary of the Ca Mau Provincial Party Committee requested drastic action to restore order, tighten discipline, and bring the grassroots "defense line" back to the central position.

The message from the head of the Provincial Party Committee is very clear: Handling petitions and complaints is a "test" of the leadership, direction and management capacity of the entire political system.

To realize this determination, Ca Mau has issued a series of synchronous solutions of "iron discipline", requiring 100% of commune and ward party secretaries to have a plan and directly meet and dialogue with people at least two days per month.

Awakening the "base defense line"

Immediately after receiving instructions from the head of the Ca Mau Provincial Party Committee, the local Party committees and authorities in the province adjusted and publicized the schedule for receiving people.

According to the Party Committee and People's Committee of Hiep Thanh Ward, Tan Tien Commune and Song Doc Commune in the first days of November, the schedule for receiving citizens of the heads of Party Committees and authorities was publicly posted at the office, right in the citizen reception room and at the headquarters of the hamlets and wards under their management.

Time for receiving citizens varies according to the work schedule of local leaders but is carried out at least two fixed days a month during office hours.

Song Doc Commune Party Secretary Ma Minh Tam said: "We strictly follow the province's instructions, the schedule for receiving people is made public so that people know, in order to contribute to handling arising cases right from the beginning." The story of receiving people and handling petitions and letters also "shines" in Phong Hiep, a purely agricultural commune of Ca Mau province.

On the afternoon of October 27, 2025, four days after the Provincial Party Committee's meeting, Chairman of Phong Hiep Commune People's Committee Nguyen Duy Tuan directly attended and chaired the land dispute mediation between the family of Mr. Pham Cong Xuan and Mr. Pham Van Nga, in Hamlet 8B.

Instead of just listening and recording both sides' opinions and then concluding "failed" like the hamlet's initial mediation method, Mr. Tuan based on the land measurement records, summarized the origin of the land and thoroughly analyzed the relevant legal regulations.

From a solid legal basis, the Chairman of the Commune People's Committee suggested a "reasonable" solution that was agreed upon by both sides: Mr. Nga's family returned the land (according to the measurement record) that had been encroached upon (converted into money) to Mr. Xuan; as for the well (water pump), both sides would use it together to maintain neighborly harmony.

Immediately after the successful mediation, the commune's functional forces went to the scene in the hamlet to set up markers, clearly demarcate, and end the conflict.

Mr. Nguyen Duy Tuan himself admitted: "If the hamlet pays proper attention, fulfills all responsibilities and explains the law thoroughly from the beginning, people will make peace with each other, and there will be no cases of petitions being pushed to the commune." The story in Phong Hiep is also a vivid proof that when the grassroots "defense line" is properly activated, all conflicts can be resolved.

However, to truly awaken the grassroots "defense line", along with increasing communication and dialogue with citizens, the Ca Mau Provincial Party Committee has just directed a more breakthrough in administrative thinking by shifting from quantity to quality assessment.

Accordingly, the “no-re-complaint rate” and “citizen satisfaction index” will become the annual capacity measurement and ranking for leaders of Party committees and local authorities. This is a solution that closely links the personal responsibility of the leader with actual results, leaving no room for formal work.

In addition, the Ca Mau Provincial Party Committee also strictly prohibits the practice of “pushing petitions”. For cases that have been resolved in accordance with the law and with reason, the competent authority will issue an explanatory document and terminate the case, and resolutely not transfer petitions that have been finally concluded back to the locality.

To prevent from afar, Secretary of the Ca Mau Provincial Party Committee Nguyen Ho Hai requested to urgently develop a "Litigation Risk Map" and apply the "Mandatory Dialogue" rule before issuing administrative decisions related to land. At the same time, the "Supporting the Grassroots" Working Group chaired by the Provincial Party Committee's Internal Affairs Committee will rotate to hot spots at the grassroots level to directly support the profession...

The strong direction from the highest level in Ca Mau shows a very high political determination in restoring order and discipline. This is also a real "test" for the effectiveness of the 2-level government model, contributing to cooling down the "heat" of petitions that go beyond the level, strengthening the people's trust and consensus in the public authority system right from the grassroots.

HUU TUNG

Source: https://nhandan.vn/ca-mau-cung-co-niem-tin-noi-co-so-post925848.html