Jonglei trade union says govt is working at her interest

By Philip Thon Aleu

May 7, 2008 (BOR, Jonglei) – Forceful closure of shops, by government, in reference to transfer to new market has caused damage to goods worth thousand of Sudanese Pounds – an incident trade union calls “satisfying government’s interest,” head of Bor trade union revealed Saturday May 3 in an exclusive interview here (Bor Town).

Chief businessman, Samuel Anyijong Kuol, said the government asked them (traders) to empty the old market and move to Maror (the new market) despite the fact that three-quarters of 350 shop plots there are owned by senior government officials.

“They (government) tell us to rent incase you do not have a plot – citing that businessmen use to do so,” Mr. Anyijong said adding that Jonglei state Ministry of land and physical infrastructure has distributed shop plots at Maror (the newly surveyed market) linearly. He said Bor County government, the implementing chamber, is very restrictive and do not sympathize with their condition.

According to Anyijong, all government employees, working at this ministry (land and physical infrastructure) have at least a shop plot more over, they are not traders in anyway. “The head of Jonglei Trader Union do not even have a shop plot,” he said. Mr. Anyijong stressed that “the first priority of shops allocation was given to senior government officials” illustrating that Bor County commissioner owns ten (10) shop plots alone.

Jonglei main market (Maror) construction started in March 2008. Few traders who managed to obtained at least a plot built modern shops, challenging critics who says Jonglei businessmen invest in cattle – a traditional asset that posses a lot of risks. However, the development that over 50% of shops belongs to the government, is strange.

But people on streets in Jonglei capital Bor have different options with saying the blurred distribution of land is not new. “If government distributes residential plots linearly, how can’t it invent business that is profitable,” Peter Deng said when asked to comment about the rotting goods in shops at Bor town.

“I can not believe that government of people can add business to salary,” yet another one said. “What we need is development, let them (traders) go to Maror and build modern shops. Not these flammable shops,” John Kakuak backs government move.

Another market is due to be surveyed at Lang-bar Ateet (one mile from Maror) but traders claim it is being delayed at their expenses.

Other conditions added by government to businessmen’s budget include trading license bought at 1,350 Sudanese Pounds (SP) (about 650 US Dollars) for retailers annually, 3,035 SP (about 1,450 US Dollars) for wholesalers annually, buying shop plot (8*8 meters) at 2,935 SP (about 1,430 US Dollars) and taxes levied at 10% price of goods. All these, Anyijong said, are accomplished by traders but government continuously neglect them.

Police fine a trader, who attempt to open his shop at the old market, at 200 SP (about 100 dollars) a day or imprisoned. The old market has remain closed for over two weeks but rats and weevils are not waiting the traders to open their shops. These organisms are accused by businessmen of buying their goods on credit and feared not to pay debts.

(ST)