W. Equatoria governor calls for regulations on land usage in the state
* Article
* Comments (4)
email Email
print Print
pdfSave
separation
increase
decrease
separation
separation
*
*
*
*
May 11, 2011 (KAMPALA) - In his opening remarks at a one-day workshop
on large scale land investment on 11 May, 2011 the Governor of Western
Equatoria state (WES), Bangasi Joseph Bakosoro said the land of the
state is for its people.
JPEG - 30.2 kb
W. Equatoria governor examining NPA land baseline survey on 11 May
2011 in Yambio (ST)
The Generation Agency for Development and Transformation-Pentagon
(GADET) in partnership with the Norwegian People’s Aid, (NPA)
organised the workshop on large-scale investment on Wednesday in
Yambio, WES.
The aim of the workshop was to report the findings of a survey on
large scale land investment in South Sudan and to raise awareness and
stimulate discussion on the subject.
In the opening remarks the representative of NPA, Henrik Stabell said
that “as the south is due for independence by 9 July there will be
high interest in the land and NPA is commissioned to survey and to
look at current land deals and give recommendations.
"NPA has been working in solidarity with the people of South Sudan for
the past 25 years since 1986 during this struggle, and have to stay if
still needed to work with the people of South Sudan.
"NPA has employed over 950 southern Sudanese working in different
states in South Sudan, with local communities in areas like Mine
service, civil society and rural development projects."
He said the NPA had been commissioned to “conduct a base line survey
to find out what has been happening so far in land investment”.
He added that investment in South Sudan is welcome,but should benefit
its people.
Governor Bakosoro commended the continuing efforts of NPA since the
early days of the struggle for independence.
"Land is an asset, gold and everything for us, if we lose it we shall
not be called people because people have land," said Bakosoro.
Bakosoro denounced the lease of land for 100 years, since it was
initiated by the British colonials and was no longer practical.
He called for reforms and a land contracting system as an alternative.
The governor disclosed that “the Arabs uprising in the Sudan was all
about land because the instruction to the Sudan Armed Forces [SAF]
during the war was about the land, not people which means land is
important.” The SAF is the army of north Sudan.
Bakosoro called upon the Government of South Sudan to ensure that land
issues are clearly discussed in the transitional constitution of South
Sudan.
He urged NPA to assist the people of South Sudan in regulating rules
on land usage in the new country.
The the state minister of local government Wilson Ismail Sidigi, said
the state will not sell land, but only rent it to investors and that
“the investment processes include the two ministries of agriculture
and physical infrastructure and the decisions of the communities” he
said.
He also mentioned that after land reform decisions made by the local
authorities, will be discussed by the council of ministers for
alterations, or approval of the investor. The workshop brought
together the ten commissioners of the states and other administrative
officers from the counties of Western Equatoria.
(ST)
--
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.
