EE State Reviews S. Sudan Development Plan For Inclusion Eastern Equatoria State has embarked on reviewing the 3 years South Sudan Development Plan, SSDP, with an aim to ensure incorporation in the new Government to be declared independent by 9th July. 10 May 2011 EE State Reviews S. Sudan Development Plan For Inclusion EES Government officials reviewing the S. Sudan Development Plan at Hotel Torit, [©Gurtong]
By Peter Lokale Nakimangole TORIT, 9th May, 2011 [Gurtong] – Eastern Equatoria State has embarked on reviewing the 3 years South Sudan Development Plan, SSDP, with an aim to ensure incorporation in the new Government to be declared independent by 9th July. Geoffrey Von Otto, an Executive Planning Director in the State Ministry of Finance, Trade & Industry of Eastern Equatoria revealed to Gurtong yesterday at Hotel Torit that all the States invited by the GOSS’ Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning on 24 March, 2011 in Juba successfully presented their respective States’ priorities. Otto further clarified that at this stage, the State is consultatively re-examining gaps on particular priorities that might have been omitted in the SSDP hence be identified and inserted. “We want to ensure that the State priorities are correctly captured in the SSD so we do not worry and regret later on,” Otto said. At the opening of the consultative meeting yesterday, held at Hotel Torit in Torit, attended by all State Ministries’ Director Generals and development partners, the acting Finance Minister in Eastern Equatoria State, Mark Akio who led the meeting revealed that EES’ vital priorities were Security, Governance, Developing Infrastructure, provision of Social Services, improving Food Security, among others. He also recalled that in late 2010, when the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning Government of South Sudan invited States to attend the meeting on GOSS Core Functions, in which the GOSS development Plan was also presented, EES was one of the States that expressed great concerns on the need to include State priorities and realities on the GOSS Development Plan. Therefore the current consultations are a realization of the SSDP meeting. On behalf of the State, Akio appreciated GOSS’ Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning for acknowledging this concern by inviting all State county representatives and State Consultation meeting aimed at incorporating States’ development priorities in the SSDP. Akio added that this underpinned the vision of the late Hero Dr. John Garang De Mabior of ‘taking the towns to the people.’ He said that the State faced serious financial challenges to adequately cater for priorities as identified in the 2011 planning budget. Therefore, he added, EES input’s into the South Sudan Development Plan (SSDP) provides a great opportunity for the State to have some of its critical challenges addressed. However, Akio said that Eastern Equatoria State like other States had a few natural resources to be explored and supplement the revenues that have recently been transferred uniformly to all the States by the GOSS. Mr. Akio who is also the State Minister of Housing & Public Utilities in EE stressed that, this was an opportunity for the people of EES to make use of their time to review key inputs and urged those involved to freely participate. He said although the State had numerous challenges, there was a need to reprioritize the most needed ones even if they were very few. Objectives of EE State Development Plan Akio stated that key objectives of the Development Plan were to improve the lives of the citizens through the provision of basic Social Services, and to inculcate the culture of reconciliation, peace, unity, cooperation, understanding, tolerance and respect for customs, traditions and beliefs of each other apart from bestowing public resources and focus attention on the provision of gainful employment for the people. He further explained that the Development Plan set to be adopted stipulates promotion of democratic principles and political pluralism and it aims at devolving powers to the people through appropriate levels of government. Promotion of education at all levels to create the necessary qualified cadres for development was also one of the provisions set out. Upon completion of the present review of the SSDP document, each State through the Ministry of Finance, Trade and Industry shall present it to the GOSS’ Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning for inclusion. Posted in: Home -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "JFD info" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/jfdinfo?hl=en.
