South Sudan: Board of directors of Road Authority inaugurated by minister
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By Richard Ruati
August 18, 2011 (JUBA) – The caretaker minister of Transport and Roads
Anthony Lino Makana, officially inaugurated the Board of Directors of
the newly established South Sudan Road Authority (SSRA) on Thursday in
Juba.
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Jacob Marial Maker,Undersecretary of Ministry of Transport and Roads
perform oath taking as member of SSRA before the caretaker Minister of
transport and roads on August 18, 2011. (Photo credit: Emmanuel
Longo/SISP)
Established by the South Sudan Act 2010, the Board is entrusted with
functions and powers as outlined in the Law. Objectives of the Boards
are as follows:
a) recommend to the Minister from among three candidates competitively
selected for appointment as Executive Director and subsequently
confirmed by the Council of Ministers;
b) advise the Minister, upon request, with regard to any matter
related to the objectives of the SRRA provisional order;
c) oversee the general direction and supervision of the Authority;
d) establish and approve rules and procedures for appointment,
promotion, termination, discipline and terms and conditions of
services of staff of the Authority;
e) approving project and program activities proposed by the committee
and or/ directives; and,
f) perform any other such functions assigned and or delegated when
appropriate necessary, for the efficiency and effective implementation
of Provisional Order.
In his inaugural statement, Minister Makana, after thanking the
members for their acceptance to serve in the Board, noted that “The
Republic of South Sudan has indeed enormous road infrastructure gaps
in the ten states and major cities including Juba the temporary
capital of the new nation.”
The Minister said that while efforts are being made to “construct and
maintain the country’s roads, it must be noted that quality should be
addressed not only from the perspective of building roads but
accountability as well.”
According to Minister Makana among the three top priorities of the
government of South Sudan, road infrastructure is critical for
economic growth of the new country.
“Despite earlier delays, the SSRA is a reality. The SSRA will revamp
roads construction and maintenance, spurring the badly needed
development,” he said.
The South Sudan Road Authority faces financial constraints to live up
to its objectives. The Minister stated that 1.5 million South Sudanese
pounds will be made available, which will help expedite establishment
of the authority, adding that “more money shall be allocated in the
next fiscal year budget.”
Minister Makana appealed to development partners; United States Agency
for International Development (USAID) to support Africa’s youngest
country financially so that it can move from gravel/murram roads to
tarmac/paved roads. “We still need institutional capacity building”,
he added.
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Group photo of the newly constituted SSRA members, from row: Mr.
Monyluak Alor Kuol, chairman of SSRA, Makana caretaker Minister,
Ministry of transport and roads, Mr. Peter Natiello, Deputy Mission
Director, USAID South Sudan Mission and Mr. David Gosney, Team Leader,
Economic Growth USAID South Sudan Mission. (Photo credit: Sarah
Armstrong/USAID South Sudan Mission)
The Minister said work on developing and strengthening the quality of
infrastructure in South Sudan has already begun through the support of
the USAID funded Juba-Nimule Road which is the new nations first major
paved road.
Throughout the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement
which ended Africa’s civil war in 2005 between Islamic dominated North
Sudan and mainly Christian South Sudan, the US Government through
USAID have supported various infrastructure projects in South Sudan.
Peter Natiello, Deputy Mission Director for USAID in South Sudan, at
the inaugural ceremony said “today is indeed an important day that
marks the realization of one of the key goals of the South Sudan-USAID
infrastructure capacity building partnership that commenced over three
years ago.”
He noted that the “lack of infrastructure, and particularly roads, is
one of the greatest challenges faced by the new nation. It impacts
almost every aspect of South Sudan’s development including security,
health, education, trade, agriculture and economic opportunities.”
Natiello revealed that upon the signing of the Comprehensive Peace
Agreement, “USAID supported the construction of 1500 kilometers of
emergency access roads throughout southern Sudan to enable critical
food and relief supplies to reach people in need.”
He further highlighted that USAID had “supported the construction of
262 kilometers of roads in Western Equatoria.”
“USAID feels so optimistic today, because your gathering shows this
new nation’s commitment to “getting it right” by establishing this
critical institution to meet South Sudan’s road maintenance needs,”
said Natiello amid applause from officials who attended the landmark
ceremony.
According to the USAID senior official over the past 6 years, USAID
has provided nearly $20 million of assistance to build capacity in the
transport sector for public and private sector managers and
implementers.
He also pointed that through the USAID-funded Sudan Infrastructure
Services Project (SISP) through its implementation Partner, the
US-based Louis Berger Group, has prepared for the establishment of
this roads authority, constructed the South Sudan Roads Authority
Office complex, trained hundreds of Ministry of Transport staff,
trained 30 local maintenance contractors, provided technical
assistance to develop policies and procedures, funded numerous
workshops to promote policy awareness, and organised regional study
tours for ministry staff to learn first-hand how efficient and
effective transport institutions function.
Finally, on the issue of future assistance he culminated his keynote
speech by acknowledging that USAID is aware that “the work is not done
and USAID is therefore committed to continue to provide support in the
form of technical assistance and training to help the Roads Authority
achieve its intended goals.”
Following his oath of office, Mr. Monyluak Alor Kuol, chairman of the
9-member board, delivered a short speech of appreciation to the
Minister of Transport and Roads for the trust vested in himself and
the Board. Mr. Monyluak promised to serve to the best of his ability
saying “we are all (here) in the spirit of cooperation and we
appreciate our colleagues in the ministry for having reached this
historic day.”
The board members were appointed by ministerial order bestowed upon
him under chapter III article 9 of the South Sudan Roads Authority
provisional Order 2011.
The board shall serve for a period three years effective as from 1st
June 2011 as provided for in chapter III article 9 section (2) and (3)
of the South Sudan Roads Authority Provisional Order 2011.
The members of the newly inaugurated Board of Directors of the South
Sudan Roads Authority apart from the chair, include Engineer Jacob
Marial Maker, Ambassador Kuol Alor Kuol, Mr. Aggrey Tisa Sabuni, Ms
Elizabeth Manoah Majok, Ambassador Majok Guadong, Engineer Jermalili
Roman Jermalili, Mr Simon Akuei Deng and Mr Hillary Francis Otwari.
(ST)
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