Governor of Sudan’s Lakes State’s outlines growth-oriented policy
By Manyang Mayom
September 02, 2010 (RUMBEK) – The governor of Lakes State, Chol Tong Mayay, on Wednesday outlined his government’s policy to the state’s parliament, citing economic growth and security as the key challenges facing his administration.
Governor Tong said that the priorities of his government are to asses security ahead of the referendum on south Sudan’s self-determination as well as to pursue economic development and growth.
“Our towns now are overcrowded, there are inadequate modern facilities, no jobs and crime rate is alarming. As an SPLM based government, it is incumbent on us to implement part of our late leader’s vision of taking towns to the people in rural areas rather than the other way round” he told parliamentarians.
The governor revealed that his government intends to tackle lack of security through involving grassroots in building peace.
“During the past five years; security was a nightmare and became an obstacle to investment, farming, travel and transport of goods, and as a result life has been really tough” the governor said.
He went on to add that “the policy of my government is therefore to face challenges of insecurity headlong. In this regard, and having identified the root causes of insecurity all over the state, my government will do the following such as to involvement of communities in maintenance of security by conducting peace conferences among them.”
Tong noted that the most difficult challenges faced by his cabinet are economic development and growth policy, revealing plans to introduce legislation encouraging foreign investors.
“My government will soon enact investment law that does not discriminate but encourage and promote foreign investment. Tax holidays, bonuses and other incentives will be provided to genuine investors,” he said.
He went on to elaborate on the key areas of potential investment opportunities in his state.
“Our policy will be to encourage foreign investors together with our local entrepreneurs to take advantage of our vast investment potentials such as in Agriculture and Forestry, Livestock and Fisheries, construction industry and social services” he announced.
The governor also cited road construction as a top priority of his administration. According to Tong, data produced by the state’s ministry of infrastructure indicates that “road transport accounts for over 90% of freight and passengers’ movement, which makes road construction and maintenance a top priority.”
The governor statement also stressed the need to upgrade Rumbek airport to an international airport as well as the construction of feeder roads networking to all counties to Rumbek central.
On education, governor Tong pointed out that “the Education policy will be geared towards eradication of illiteracy, development of potential generations of young people who would yield change to society.”
Semi-autonomous south Sudan is struggling to recover from the war, which killed an estimated two million people in a conflict fuelled by ethnicity, ideology, religion and resources such as oil.
Tensions remain high between the north and the grossly underdeveloped south, which is scheduled to vote in January in an independence referendum.
(ST)