Jonglei dismisses favoritism in land allotment
By Philip Thon Aleu
January 30, 2009 (BOR) – Responding to criticisms over land allotment in Jonglei state, officials say they are guided in their plans by the need for development but also admit intervention of external factors.
State Minister for Land and Physical Infrastructures Eng. John Amuor Kuol spoke on Friday to the reporters about the issue dismissing favoritism of politicians and wealthy citizens.
There are first, second and third classes which are the forms designed to allotting plots in Bor Town with areas decreasing in the descending order. Every citizen can obtain a plot provided he/she can reach the threshold.
“You fill what you are entitled for, please don’t overstep…and [remember] that there are ministers, MPs and other senior government officials,” he said. Kuol however dismissed any favoritism but added “somebody whom you give the land is somebody who can develop it.”
The minister admits that evicted people from some areas have not been allotted land because “they did not apply for land and we are working under time pressure.”
“We wanted to build something like electricity, opening the roads in town…..and so there are reasons which make us to move people by all means and we compensate them.”
He also unveiled that the plans of state government were upset by directives and requests of southern Sudan government, a matter that pressurize local authorities in Jonglei.The minister was referring to 248 soldiers evicted from SPLA headquarters in Juba last year (2008) and citizens of Jonglei State.
Bor residents and Jonglei government have been deadlocked in apprehending the criteria used in allotting residential and commercial plots since 2006.
Critics accuse State Ministry of Land and Physical Infrastructures of being linear in allotting lands to influential politicians and army generals, an allegation the government attributes to financials disability.
‘COUNTRYSIDE IS THE BEST’
The minister said some people say they do not have land and blame the state government for that. But in fact they do not want to admit they have no financial means to pay it, he underlined.
He also, denied alleged division of people into classes with MPs and ministers having special areas in the town.
A part of Bor Town at Bor – Juba road is called MPs’ area.
Kuol revealed that thousands of plots are surveyed but “some people were opting to say ‘we don’t want to go there’ but we (the government) told them that that is the centre of the town.”
The Minister encouraged the population to consider moving out of Jonglei capital to participate in agriculture and “leave happily when we produce our own things.”
He said insecurity is being exaggerated by staying in Bor Town and creating a vacuum in villages. “Insecurity is there, it has become a psychological effect but the problem is the establishment of the system and showing our people that the countryside is the best,” he said.
He further said survey exercises have been repeatedly halt in Bor town due to insufficient man power. The busier ministry hires experts from foreign Countries as well as from other Southern Sudan states.
Amidst difficulties, Eng. Amuor says the ministry has achieved a modern town survey and “the biggest achievement is these wide roads in the town.
“We (also) want to change from hand pumps to submersible pumps so that you can collect water through taps.”
(ST)
Jonglei Kuereng
Jonglei dismisses favoritism in land allotment
My profound gratitude to the minister for Land physical infrastructures and the state government for the job they have done to develop and tramsform our capital city into modern township. We don’t want to see people living in traditional house. We want to see parks, footpath, water system, light, toilet and much more services are created. We entrusted you with our resources and you can do anything necessary for the best interest of our state. Thanks a lot jonglei State and may God bless you.
Cheers
Jonglei
JOHN CHOL
Jonglei dismisses favoritism in land allotment
Mr. Amour must be told that 90% of the residents in Bor town are returnees and IDPs from neigbouring countries and within Sudan.Minister Amour is no exception as well, he just returned from abroad.English says charity begins at home and hence, Amour as a returnee should start settling at his village if he thinks that insecurity at the countryside is being exaggerated.
Bor town is being over populated because it is the only location where the state resources are being centred. How do you expect people to stay at the countryside unprotected? The government has not provided adequate protection forces,civilian are more armed yet the government has failed to disarm them as decreed last in June,No roads, Education and Health facilities at the countryside.In addition,agricultural lands are too bushy that the locals cannot tilt with thier axes.Again the same government has terribly failed to mechanise agriculture!!! Shame on you Amour……where is your skills and experience in urbanization?
Minister Amour should be rational,firm and more realistic in dismissing favorism in Land allotment.We don’t have to be all influencial politicians,minsters, Generals,rich and wealthy to qualify to live in Bor town unless our state has become another world that discrimates between poor and riches.
People have filled and filled volume of application forms but no tangible allotment done by the ministry concerned .We don’t filled because we needed to fill but to get a piece of land to develop.We might not be politician but in possession of money to build and develop our state.Amuor should revise his tenure and work hard to avoid further havoc in Bor town by forcing thousand of people to be homeless.
Patriotic Bull
Jonglei dismisses favoritism in land allotment
What a shame to Hon.Minister Amuor to cheat us that he doesn`t favor anyone.
How did Ajak Gureech got the number of the Plot in which he is currently residing if there is n`t favor in your ministry.You have deceived the entire community that there is no ownership of the plot any yet you have given Mr Ajak Gureech the land which was his.
Again Ajak as a member of land alotment has several land in Marol market.
Amour as a minister has more than 10 plot in Marol.
We have n`t experience any fair land alotment.we have spent more than three years in the Town having applied for the land but upto now no result.
I don`t see any reason for Amuor to be proud of his job when he does nothing.I argue the gov. of Jonglei to Urgently remove all the committee members of land alotment including the minister of Physical Infastructure for the better and fastest land alottment.
Please enough is enough, we want you to come to survey patiou before we could allow you to corrupt jonglei.
One thing you should remember is that the war was fought volunteerily not by rich people like you do.Additionally, you didn`t even contribute to progress of the SPLM/A.
One thing that affect Mr Amuor thinking capacity is because he is Named after a woman who attended his birth.