Poor roads hinder development in Warrap State
By Amoko Robert
January 29 2012,[KUAJOK] – The Speaker of Warrap State Legislative Assembly, Madot Dut Deng, has said that poor roads through out the state has contributed to under development.
He said roads connecting Warrap’s counties have not been properly reconstructed since the peace deal in 2005 that led to South Sudan’s independence last year.
The speaker told Sudan Tribune from Kuajok on Saturday said that budget from the central government in Juba is only for facilitating the services of the state and the salary of the civil servants and does not include funds for building or maintaining roads.
Speaker Deng expressed that the poor roads in all the six counties of Warrap State meant that it was difficult for the army and police to respond to emergencies.
Deng claimed that the government of South Sudan gave the contract to Eyat Roads and Bridges company to work on the roads in Tonj County.
He said that the deal was done directly between Juba and the Eyat and did not involve the Warrap State Ministry of Physical Infrastructure to survey the project.
The Warrap State Speaker called on the national government in Juba to help improve the road system in terms of safety.
“We urge the government of the Republic of South Sudan to improve the roads within warrap state, so that services can be reach to the people at the grass root level, from couny, Payam, to boma level”, he told Sudan Tribune from his office in Kuajok.
Deng stressed that, lack of transport also affects the activities of MPs who are expected to go to their various constituencies to talk to the people from there respective constituencies about the policy and plans of the state government.
CONSTITUTION
The speaker said that the state transitional constitution has be passed by the state assembly and it is before the Ministry of Justice.
Deng also urged the National government of the Republic of South Sudan to establish special budget for the state so that services can easily be delivered in every corner of the state.
Warrap State Legislative Assembly has 48 MPs including 12 women. All MPs are members of South Sudan’s ruling SPLM. The assembly will reconvene on 1 February.
(ST)