Lakes state parliament opens its second session
By Manyang Mayom
December 23, 2010 (RUMBEK) – The Lakes State Legislative Assembly officially open its second session on Thursday, in Rumbek, the state capital. The opening was attended by Lakes State Governor, Chol Tong Mayay who delivered his speech covering his government policy achievements during the eight month period he has spent in office. Lakes State Legislative Assembly is comprises of 48 members, only 31 of whom were present.
Speaker John Marik Makur, called upon the Lakes State lawmakers to mobilize the community to turnout on the voting day in the referendum process scheduled for January 9, 2011. This is the vote in which southern Sudanese will be able to vote on whether or not southern Sudan will become a separate country, or remain part of a united Sudan.
He affirmed that, “all MPs belonging to Lakes State both in the south Sudan parliament as well in the national parliament in Khartoum, plus you here in the Lakes State Assembly should immediately put efforts into educating the public on how they could vote in the January referendum.”
Tong noted that this moment in history represents an acknowledgment and confirmation of the pivotal role that MPs have played before and during the voter’s registration for referendum processes. He described the “inspiration and motivation” of the 21 years of struggle which the southern Sudanese have endured to reach this vote.
Tong went on to highlight his achievements in reducing insecurity in Lakes State territory since his eight month in power as governor of the state.
Tong told the legislatures that “you will recall that our top priority was to provide a secure and stable environment, that will enable us conduct the referendum and provide services to our people. In this regard your government, which you elected, have reduced insecurity by 80%.”
He mentioned that 14 Toyota Land Cruiser pickup vehicle were purchased by the Lakes State executive, based on Lakes State Assembly commitment to provide police forces with convenient transport to reduce insecurity in various remote areas. Marit said that police are now under training in Rumbek police headquarters in order to improve the security after the referendum.
Tong said that the “Lakes State government has reduced the official working day to five hours to enable civil government workers to register and participate further in the sensitization and mobilization of the community.”
According to Tong, all constitutional posts holders, led by himself, will carry out community sensitization and mobilization campaigns all over the state and help to resolve some of the problems faced during the registration.
In a separate report, this week it was revealed that Lakes State has received over 709 returnees from Khartoum.
On Tuesday, the United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations distributed non-food items to over 700 displaced people in Rumbek, the state capital. On Tuesday they distributed sleeping mats, soaps buckets and blankets to the returnees who have arrived from the north of Sudan, since last Friday.
Speaking at Comboni primary school where the returnees are camped, the Associate Field Officer of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in the State, Soter Byarugaba, said that the final settlement of the returnees is the responsibility of the Government of Southern Sudan. The Lakes State government said it will accommodate the returnees for three months.
(ST)
saban John
Lakes state parliament opens its second session
Thank you so much Mr. gov. good job indeed. But asking your mps to do it by themselves is not enough because it will not produce intelligent and durable results without consulting the arabs in the north. I therefore advise you as a brother to seek intelligent advise from north and then use your mps as aparatus to implement.
Thanks
Joseph
Lakes state parliament opens its second session
Dear readers
A Lake State authority in general, doesn’t want to take drastic measure to capture culprits and murderers to bring them to book. There is ongoing cattle’s wrestling between Yirol East County and Rumbek East County, some months back. This year, Those of Yirol East county looted more than five hundred herd of cattle’s from Akot Payam, the authority was notified to resolve the issue but all in vain however, in November this year those of Rumbek East County organized their youths and went to Yirol East County to loot more than three hundred herd of cattle’s. Now the youths of Yirol East County want to mobilize themselves and make revenge again it’s the way people’s of the same state live?
I personally recommended after referendum the powers must be given to the army to control ongoing atrocities among our citizens in lake state. MPS are doing nothing, just to receive huge salaries at the end of each month and fill their hungry stomach with “Nymacoma” everyday
Politicians don’t like to solve problem of insecurity because they fear being vote out in the next term they. Shame on you guys
The writer is a true liberator who fought for the independent of Southern Sudan
And will cast his vote for separation on date 9 /1/2011 before he take cup of tea