South Sudan roads ministry says all projects on course
By Ngor Arol Garang
August 3, 2011 (JUBA) – The ministry of roads and bridges in the Government of South Sudan on Wednesday said all road construction campaign promises made by President Salva Kiir, during last year’s general elections, will be implemented by 2015.
“We know all the president’s promises but they cannot all be implemented this year, we will implement them in phases till 2015,” said Director General of roads and bridges, Abraham Mabor, explaining the 2011 budget allocated to the ministry does not cover internal roads in each of the ten states.
“Much of the budget for 2011 will be spent on roads and construction of bridges connecting main places and town[s]. The ministry is also prioritising feeder roads connecting agriculture schemes and projects”, he added.
Peter Deng Mawien, a member of South Sudan’s ruling party, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), said in an interview with Sudan Tribune in Juba on Wednesday that there were too many foreign contractors working on road projects across the country.
“It is indeed correct that we in the Government of South Sudan are facing a lot of challenges. We used to buy dollars from the government of Sudan every month during the interim period to pay the international contractors, which brings pressure on the local currency, that is why it is depreciating at an alarming rate,” Mawien warned.
He also disapproved of the the hiked costs of road construction, suggesting that a unit of design engineers at the Ministry of Roads and Bridges should be formed to evaluate the costs of foreign engineers.
“Our debts are now excessive because of such delays. Why sign contracts when there is no money allocated?” asked Mawein.
“As we move to attain 100 percent tarmac roads, we need to accommodate local contractors,” he said, arguing that giving priority to local contractors will not only reduce the depreciation of the South Sudanese Pound, but will also help to improve the knowledge of local contractors.
The Central Equatorial State Member of Parliament to the National Assembly in Juba, James Duku, praised Kiir’s administration for helping his constituency address the construction of roads, schools and health services during recent years and expressed his determination to continue providing more services to his constituents
“Working with the government of the day under President Kiir does not mean someone is a stooge,” said Duku, saying this was the opinion of “confused and frustrated” members of opposition parties.
(ST)
mayom kuirdit
South Sudan roads ministry says all projects on course
My appreciation goes to the Ministry of Transport and Bridges, I hope this will not be a paper work on but action oriented statement. The free citizens of the new Republic of South Sudan have high expectations on public services not an individual ones since no government can build a family house unless it is deemed necessary. For the state.internal roads as per the article, it is the responsible of the state to construct their internal roads using the state budget as I believe a state can generates revenues couple with the one allocated by the central governments. So let our governors learn how budget thing during a tight economic situations. Let the road be tarmac please instead of wasting national money on renovating the flat land which can’t support transport during rainy season. Even though the tarmac may takes ten years, it is better to do it than wasting money on the above mention points.
Development is a gradual process not an event. Go head mr Director under Minister Makana. Pertaining the contract designation, I appreciated the point raised that local engineers can be contracted to gain more insights and also to reduced the cost of importing foreign expertize. We have many engineers and ready to save the nation at a reduced cost, please take note.
Thanks
Mayom Kuirdit
MALAYSIA
Chuangah
South Sudan roads ministry says all projects on course
why contracting foreigners while we have an army we have to contract our army to build roads and bridges just bring them tools and they will do it in a few years. our govt is ignoring an army, army develope a country, see a country like Eritrea it was the army who fought to liberate it and it was the one building roads and bridges , Eritrean dought trust foreign contractors much especially mines workers those who deals with minerals, becoz they are theives they use machines that stores mineral internal when it full they said the machines need to be taken for repairing so south sudanese be allert. dont put much trust on foreigners, we soldiers we have engineers not mines but civil engineers, think of army as a human capital, if they are few the look for a foreigner to work with them, a foreigner is a foreigner if we put much trust on them we will never be developed as first as we can in this vast area of south south. my dear govt bring tools and let us train ourselves here in south sudan, foreigners will not do anything good if you think money can talk.
dakin
South Sudan roads ministry says all projects on course
Ibraim mabok and peter deng mawound,
You hav realy mawounded the nation, you said south sudan have been buying the dolars from Khartoum. Are you teling me the president hav drink the money for roads hahahahaha,
mawound wher the oil dolar fo july?
wher is the 3 trillion dollars pagan?
Wher is akuein dolars?
Wher home away billion dolars?
Wher dead salvator uncountilion cofin dolars?
All this dolars can built railways leav alone your laughable timber bridge u promised. Go bac cheater , I know your clown dog dr okuk aka dinka shit which is a big jok in nuer will start barking and such a frightened barking dog infected by rabies
ocitigangpemeru
South Sudan roads ministry says all projects on course
Stop critizing you little fool. I think development is about change, as you all know it is gradual process. I still can’t understand why some individuals become unpatient and eventually become a cronic diseases to the public. please stop these moral decays. Didn’t mothers told you, you will be cursed by abusing the elders and their authority? What do you know about the government? Simple question and matter of fact to answer. When will you be respectful to your very own government? Can you be called a loyal citizen with these shit? No, you are not dude. I like you, but Love to hate your comment dude. try to change and develop positively. You are just little shit in the family of two aged people waiting your ass to be kicked-grow positively. good day man
dakin
South Sudan roads ministry says all projects on course
octilpul,
wher did you com from? What a fool am not to debate you go and dust your ass migit
Bush
South Sudan roads ministry says all projects on course
We don’t want to hear all those nonsenses now, people of South Sudan have paid every price for this nation, now they want to see full implementations of service delivery.
jacob mayen ajuoi
South Sudan roads ministry says all projects on course
Mr mabor that words is not correct,the priorities in ever country ‘s they road.and you are telling us 2015 that is not right,u can see the road now between juba and jonglei it,s completely bad.
Alier42
South Sudan roads ministry says all projects on course
The promises made on political platforms are like debts that must be paid ,otherwise you will miss the nexts votes .zero tolerance to corruption will the ticket to power in the 2015 general election,which will not be won by the current corrupt leaders who are running the goverment of day.