South Sudan budget discussion postponed for 15 January
By Isaac Vuni
December 29, 2008 (JUBA) — The Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly today postponed the second reading of the 2009 budget for January 15, 2009, said the chairman of the specialized committee for Economy, Development and Finance, Professor Bari Wanji.
Speaking from his office, Wanji emphasized that before the proposed budget can be passed, it requires critical analysis by assembly specialized clusters based on guidelines given by the chairman of Economy, Development and Finance as to whether it takes into account aspirations of Southern Sudanese.
Wanji went on to say that the government of Southern Sudan will be forced to borrow money from the international community by either using unexploited underground oil as collateral or assuring international creditors of its commitment to collection of non-oil revenue.
Meanwhile, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning Kuol Athien Mawien said during an interview that the postponement was necessitated by many expensive celebrations and a lack of quorum in the assembly. He cited next year’s celebration of the fourth anniversary of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in Malakal in Upper Nile. USD 21 million is earmarked for the celebration as part of an arrangement in which the annual celebrations of the CPA are conducted on a rotational basis among the ten state capitals of Southern Sudan as a way of supporting the state governments with peace dividend projects.
The minister added that it would be very important for the president of Southern Sudan to attend the deliberation on the proposed budget for ushering in new change.
He reiterated that a lot of money has been wasted on house rent and vehicles for senior staff at the expense of government. He declared that only ministers would be entitled to drive government vehicles while other staff will be given funds to purchase cars as per their entitlement.
On the other hand some disappointed present MPs angrily expressed their disappointment over the postponement and demanded removal of the specialized committee together with the Speaker whom they accused of being overdue in offices and promised to issue statements tomorrow.
(ST)
Nilenda
South Sudan budget discussion postponed for 15 January
Well, borrowing from the foreign entity is totally wrong idea, because its leads to agenda 21 of the World Bank. sincerely, we should be responsible for our actions that led to the low budget, so mismanagement of public funds dies in the Kirr govt. I do not beliefs in oil promisses at all in the first three years of new govt like GOSS.
Kur
South Sudan budget discussion postponed for 15 January
No,no. This is going to be a terrible mistake to rely on credits from foreign banks. The government of South Sudan must find sound majors to build good economy that will support the country.
The problem is that the management of the resources we have is poor and very unreliable. If the ministers are allowed to use hotels paid for by the goverment through he public funds, how do we expect the current resources to support the budget allocations to different sections of the society. As we know it, there are government officials who occupy hotel rooms for $150 per a day. This is completely unacceptable. It is a foolish excessive use of resources unnecessily. All these kinds of stealing must stop for the economy to remain sound.
Kur
Kasunia
South Sudan budget discussion postponed for 15 January
What can South Sudan do in this period of economic uncertainity in the world? I bet alot of things. It might be a good thing to borrow as long as the fund is put to good use to enable the South into self-reliance. I somehow disagree on borrowing using oil as collateral as I presume we have no idea how much reserves the South owns. My former lecturer who is also an oil consultant with multinational campanies always ask the the question” WHAT IS THE PRICE OF OIL TODAY?” and looking at it now, oil is probably not going to be the black gold into the future given that people are looking forward into hybrids and electric. So does it mean that we do have to think oil? I don’t know but I bet all Sudanese have to think on this including the PMs. Its fortunate that south sudan is a young economy and with good planning I believe the South will easily walk its way into self-reliance and my suggestion is this.
– Policies design to attract mineral exploration in
South Sudan.
– Establishment of geological surveys to understand the geology of South Sudan as well as keeping keeping database for any information.
This can atleast reduce the over-reliance on oil thus minerals such gold will atleast alleviate the deficit as the price of gold is relatively stable.
Thanks to everyone who takes time to read this and happy new year.
[email protected] (Dedenya Moses)