48 members sworn into Lakes state Assembly

By Manyang Mayom

May 26, 2010 (RUMBEK) – Forty eight elected representatives were sworn into the Lakes State Legislative Assembly (LSLA) in Rumbek on Wednesday.

The parliament of Lakes State is comprised of 46 official members from Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) and two independent members who won the election race in Wulu County of Lakes state.

The Honorable John Marik Makur of the SPLM party was elected as the State’s Legislative Assembly Speaker and his deputy, Nhial Enock Cohoc and his Assembly Controller, Isaac Makur Buoc Apac also belong to the SPLM party.

Two independent members remain in the same position obtained during the nominations process in August.

The Elected Speaker, John Marik, gave a keynote speech in which he said that he will work for the unity of lawmakers in Lakes State during his five-year term.

Marik confirmed that he will work hard for unity among assembly members and executive members as well as the judiciary and the public at large.

He promised to make unity a priority as well as abiding by the state’s constitution when conducting business.

He also said that “I will establish law in this state. In making laws; we shall establish good governance in this state through public participation, which includes transparency, accountability and fairness. To maintain the rule of law, I will try with my executive colleagues to improve the assembly structure. Our struggle is the referendum and I will be fully advocating for it. I will not work as an individual but all our effort will be as honorable members aiming at making the referendum a success”.

The elected Speaker, John Marik Makur, was serving in Lakes State Legislative Assembly’s outgoing parliament as the previous chairperson in the Financial Committee. Marik was in the recent election race, he was running in Cueibet County of Lakes state in the western part of Rumbek.

In 2008, John Marik was intense in his criticism of the former Minister of Finance, Philip Marol Mading, which led the previous speaker, Isaiah Alier Mashinkok and Phillip Kot Beny and Philip Marol, the speakers for 13 days, to lose their position after the GOSS president decided to oust them in an attempt to reconcile the assembly members.

Nhial Enock Chohoc, the current deputy, was a former office manager to the previous governor of Lakes State, Daniel Awet Akot. Nhial was a contestant in April’s election in Awerial country in Lakes state at the geographical constituency number 23 in Ador in the eastern part of Rumbek.

Similarly, Isaac Makur Buoc, the elected Assembly controller was a former commissioner of Rumbek in 2002. He also served in the outgoing parliament as the SPLM’s chairperson from 2005 to 2009.

In April’s election, Hon Makur contested in Geographical constituency number 13 in Pacong, Rumbek.

(ST)