Land registration too expensive, Unity state citizens say
By Bonifacio Taban Kuich
November 4, 2011 (BENTIU) – A new land policy registration office in South Sudan’s Unity state has proved controversial, asking citizens to pay around 1,500SSP (approx. $560) for a now mandatory land ownership certificate.
Local people have told Sudan Tribune that this will mean that the rich will be able to to take land from poorer citizens who cannot afford to pay the fee.
The Unity state governor, Taban Deng Gai, and the speaker of legislative assembly witnessed the chairman of Bentiu high court open land registration policy office this week.
Unity is the fifth state to open a land registry office after N. Bhar el Gazal, Warrap and W. Bhar-el-Gazal. The president of high court of Unity state Benjamin Bak said at the ceremony that it was important for everyone to have a certificate for the land they own.
“I agree with the governor’s request, since we came in the state in 2006, the governor of the state requested [a] land registration office. We have complete[d] all the process requirement from the national government in July, with approval through the chairman of the high court in the republic of South [Sudan] now we [can] confirm our operation [has] started,” said Bak.
Governor Gai said that he welcomed the opening of the office and said the office would assist in fighting corruption and prevent illegal land grabbing. He thanked citizens for standing by the government, describing the opening office as very important.
He urged the whole state to register their land and said documentation would now be needed to prove ownership of land.
However, Simon Majak Deng, a local resident in Unity state told Sudan Tribune he was not happy with the registration fee claiming it more than doubled since before the office was established.
Previously land was registered and surveyed by the ministry of physical infrastructure for a fee of around 600SSP ($225), he said.
Unity state, which borders north Sudan, has received a high number of returnees who came from Khartoum, both before and after South Sudan’s independence in July. Many returnees and long term residents do not have the funds to pay for the new land certificate.
(ST)
Michael Miyom Minyiel
Land registration too expensive, Unity state citizens say
It is also a sort of corruption charging citizens by nearly 2000 Ssp for only 20m x 20m sq.of land.indeed the poor will remain poorer making the gap between the rich and the poor more wide beyond the close. Who will benefit from this gain?
Malual Bol
Land registration too expensive, Unity state citizens say
1,500 SSp for ownership? Taban Deng does not feel shame of such a direct lootocracy in the eyes of community of Bentiu.ID Amin of Uganda, Hitler of Germany, Castro, Sadam, Osama, and Gadafi were the strongest and they were opposed by their own people.
People of Bentiu have been opposing you, they don’t like you, thug, son of an Arab from the North. You will die like those leaders above you devil
Malual Bol
Land registration too expensive, Unity state citizens say
The speaker of the State Parliament-Bentiu was born poor and the most deformed, ughliest, who produces precipitated saliva whenever he talks.
He has even forgotten his villagers who suffer most in the hands of this Arab son called Taban Deng because of just food for him alone.
Will you go to Khartoum when Taban will have gone to his parents in the North? Protect your people in mayiendit county
Malual Bol
Land registration too expensive, Unity state citizens say
Message to the people of Bentiu. Why do you like complaining about your governor, yet you have gone as far as giving your daughters to get marry to him. This can only be done to a good man who does not stael. Look, Taban Deng stole your votes when he lost the election against wife of riak.
He ate 2 percent oil money
He ate your 16 month salaries
He grabbed your most land
He is coining for land reg
golong
Land registration too expensive, Unity state citizens say
Hello friends,
when we look at what is taking place in Unity state and other states it is totally different. If this local people move away from State headquarter who will come to live in this state? Human being are not to be transplanted like crops where you may used necessary bed from a far. should we blame you the state government or not? Having eaten today does not mean that everyone is satisf
AUGUSTINO DENG
Land registration too expensive, Unity state citizens say
Whoever make this decision of buying a land is an “empty minded” and it was someone who was been living in North. Buying of the land from the government is a number one factor that will affect poor citizen in Unity State. Therefore, the rich people will benefit. I know that this decision came from Nuer personal and I am definitely sure.
By Augustino Deng. Jech la mer from Tharpam.
unity state boy
Land registration too expensive, Unity state citizens say
Am real shock for that ,how come the land should be registers with the 1,500 ssp what about the poor people who do,n,t have jobs how can they will get the land,now it showed that Unity state is have corruption , Now if this one will implementing it mean that Taban Deng is against community human right in the state.