Traders’ Union ask Jonglei to speed-up shops allotment
By Philip Thon Aleu
June 21, 2008 (BOR TOWN) – Following two consecutives closure of old markets here Traders’ Union (TU) requests Jonglei state authorities to “speed up” shops plot allotment to rescue what it call “deteriorating conditions of selling.”
Police forces, in honor of Government’s orders, closed shops aligning at the Nile River bank a week ago. The affected traders never secured plots at the Town new Main market – Maror, traders contacted claimed.
The first market closure was in April in an effort to pave way for speedy transfer to the latest -surveyed main market (Maror); which traders maintain most plots are apportioned to senior government officials.
To fetch little profit and avoid total losses – as government prepare to start allotting plots to traders at Lang Baar (about 2 miles from Maror market), traders resorted to vending at road sides causing unnecessary jams.
Asked why some shops are not being used in Maror but traders complain of having “no shops to transfer to” chairman of Bor Traders’ Union, Samuel Anyijong, told Sudan Tribune by phone that “those shops belong to government officials.
They want us to rent them but why did they have that priority?” ‘That priority,’ he interpreted it as “allotting plots to men of influence in the State but not considering their business procurement.”
SPEED UP PLOT ALLOTMENT
Rains in the recent weeks threaten flooding in trivial parts of the Town. The traders who remedied to selling at roadsides are likely to be displaced further by rains “because that place (photo) is shallow,” Anyijong said.
However, Joseph Kingudu – a Uganda peddler does not bother. “Whether it rains, shine badly or not, I have to continue with my business,” he said relaxing in a very heavy sun shine.
But head of Traders’ Union has a different view. “I request the government to speed-up shops distributions at Lang Baar to traders. Our conditions are deteriorating. We are indeed suffering,” he complained in wanting voice. When it rains, traders sprint across roads, loaded with clothes and other items worth thousand of Sudanese Pounds likely to degrade the quality in the process.
‘CONCERN MINSTRY VERY RELUNTANT’
Mr. Anyijong believes Government’s decision to close congested old markets is a good but indistinctly implemented.
“The Governor was right when he said those places should be left vacant for other developmental firms but the concern State Ministry is very reluctant. I don’t know their problem. If they do not have enough people to help them in surveying the other market, then more people should be employed,” he argued.
He added that his effort to meet Jonglei Governor has been very futile. “I tried to reach the Governor, but his office is always very busy. I hope he can be a help.”
Hundreds of traders spread clothes and other items at road curbs from the centre of the Town to Maror (a distance of about 500 meters). In related confrontation, this place will be unoccupied in a matter of days, another roadside seller disclosed.
“I heard we shall be forced to close these small shops (at the road side) in ten days because they cause jam,” a source that prefers anonymity told Sudan Tribune.
Briefing Bor Town residents on June 4, Governor Kuol Manyang argued State Ministry of Land and Physical Infrastructures to speed-up surveying new market and told traders to transfer in four days.
Following this declaration, police forces ordered traders to close shops after two weeks at the bank of Nile River on June 15 sending traders to clog most sites – suitable for business in the heart of the Town.
(ST)