GoSS authorities hinder good reception of South Sudan radio
By Isaac Vuni
July 5, 2007 (JUBA) — Gumbo transmitter will be on use anytime from tomorrow if the ministry of Finance and Economic Planning in the government of southern Sudan (GoSS) releases funds for purchase of fuel, the Director General of Southern Sudan Radio and Television, Arop Baggat Tinglot has said.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Sudan Tribune, today afternoon in his office, Tinglot said he has submitted financial request through his ministry headquarters to GoSS Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning seeking approval for purchasing fuel and lubricant in accordance with the new set up procedure of releasing money.
Adding that he has submitted three quotations from potential supplier of fuel and lubricant for gumbo transmitter station and hope it will be approve but denied having received specification of needed items from Ministry of Housing, Public Land and Public Utility.
“I am aware that there are a lot of blames on performance of Southern Sudan Radio and Television, but we in the administration are also facing problems of timely release of fund from ministry of finance and economic planning” However, am confident that every thing will be in place within the next three months, he assured.
Meanwhile the Director of power supply in the Ministry of Housing, Public Land and Public Utility, Kazi Tombe, said 80 per cent of electricity distribution re-connection in Juba town has been completed, adding that the reaming twenty per cent are mainly from Kator, Malakia, Atlabara, Maya and Thaura residential areas and hopes to also complete it within the next few days.
Responding to questions why there is frequent blowing up of fuses, The Director for power supply attributed it to overloading by clients and also unbalanced of fuses; and sometime trees also interference on cable causes short circuit resulting to blowing up of fuses.
Tombe advises all their clients to refrain from overloading and also to seek service of professional electricians when installing power in their houses or business premises.
Regarding non extension of power to Gumbo transmitter, about 6 km from Juba town, Tombe disclosed that, his Ministry has given, two months ago, specifications of both marine higher voltage and lower tension cables needed, about 75 meters each, to GoSS Ministry of Information and Broadcasting but the Director General of Southern Sudan Radio and Television denied having receive such letter.
He said it could have been sent directly to ministry of Housing, Public Land and Public Utility then under GoSS Vice President Riek Machr, who was also responsible for contracting Mehta Electric Company from Kenya and but he wasn’t reachable for comment despite the exerted efforts.
“We are asking for cost of new plan of over head tower (pylons) which will be between 48 to 50 meters height to enable it hold the high density cables across the Nile River’s 350 meter wide and it will be ten meters away from both edges of the Nile Bridge, adding that the pylons have to be brought from outside Sudan by their main contractor, Mehta Electric Company,” said Tombe.
However, the Mehta Electric Company Manager, Kizan, a Kenyan Indian, declined to answered questions whether they receive go ahead letter form GoSS Ministry of Information and Broadcasting rather referred me to their consultant at Civico Hotel along the Nile River sides.
When contacted at his office at Civico Hotel, Mehta Electric Company consultant, Engineer Twist Sibanda said they have not yet receive a go ahead letter form their client-Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
He went on saying that their original plan was to let the cable pass through the Nile Bridge, however, repair work on the bridge is not forthcoming. Therefore, “we came with an alterative plan of constructing pylons (over head tower)” on both sides of the Nile Bridge, he explained.
“Now we are waiting to hear from our client to give us the go ahead for purchase and construction of the two pylons for extending power to Gumbo transmitter. Because it’s they who should meet the cost of the new plan”, declared consultant.
The consultant engineer further disclosed that a ground mounted transformer of 500 KVA is already in Juba awaiting installation after completion of ground clearing by sub-constructor who is doing a very slow work, observed Mehta Electric Company contractor consultant.
He also pointed out that their main delay is due to getting approval to go ahead from our client. And if given a go ahead, the whole work will takes about two weeks to finish, Sibanda assured.
The Gumbo Transmitter, brand newly bought from Croatia by previous Coordination Council government and it was installed in 2004 and officially opened by President Omar Hassan el Bashir on January 11th 2005, soon after he returns from signing of the CPA in Kenyan capital Nairobi.
According to the Acting Director for Engineering Affairs of Southern Sudan Radio and Television Juba, engineer Abdalla Noha, the transmitter has the capacity of 100 Kw and it can covers three-equator of Southern Sudan, adding that it can operate for seven hours daily at minimal fuel consumption of 56 gallons (one drum plus 12 gallons). However, for continuity of its operation requires a stand by generator of 500KVA.Otherwise, it’s really shameful for us southern Sudanese to keep this transmitter unused. One wandered why such money has been wasted for purchasing it if it cannot be made use of? , he remarks.
A staff member of GoSS ministry of information and broadcasting, asked not to be name, accused the minister together with the director general of interfering in Engineering work and also frustrating their Director for Engineering Affairs whose vital advises are often place under carpet by the minister.
Currently the southern Sudan Radio and TV only covers about 20 miles square Juba town and the rural people are left without knowing what is going on in the government especially the coming census information amongst others.
Last February, under instruction of GoSS president, a parliamentarian committee headed by Hon Oliver Mori Benjamin investigated problems facing ministry of Information and broadcasting and the staff but the minister never implemented their recommendations to date hence creating mistrust among senior staff.
(ST)