Atok Dan Baguoot
As a matter of brute facts, the decision taken by the cabinet to halt production of oil through its executive decisions is indeed the right step which would have gone far earlier than this given the magnitude of mistrusts and breaches of several accords by the NCP in partnership with the SPLM.
It goes without remembering a saying that goes “if a man deceives me once, shame on him, if twice shame on me”. At the onset of everything, SPLM was quite aware of the political dishonesty of its partner NCP and how sluggish it was to execute national projects relating to CPA and the unity of the country. Theft of oil is as old as the lifetime of the CPA started when Global Witness gave a tip on differing figures in the share between the two antagonists.
NCP had excelled in political molestation. It had teased several political parties in the arena and quite handsomely won the battle. SPLM was the litmus test it also failed in the same tricks. It had denied SPLM the portfolios of Energy and Finance at the very beginning of the accord. The giants of the NCP only persuaded SPLM to settle for Foreign Affairs, a position which almost set SPLM ablaze. Protecting and rejuvenating the image of a country ruined for decades became a daunting task for the SPLM especially standing as a representative of a president known for war crimes internationally. Of course, a minister is an employee of the boss Mr. President.
Now that the cabinet of South Sudan has pulled off the lid on Pandora's box on the economy of Sudan and South Sudan, something is touchy and nervous for both nations. This late decision means a lot to Sudan likewise South Sudan whose daily livelihood depends on oil. To Sudan of course the only exit is to mobilize the north against the South, especially in areas of still shared interests, the Heglig and Abyei oil fields. It is the only applicable strategy in healing this economic septic wound the South has inflicted upon it. Mobilizing ragtag militias along chaotic borders seems to be immediate on its table, while South Blue Nile and Southern Kordofan state rebellions are sacrificial lambs in the economic mess.
For our case here in the South, the decision means tightening our belts harder, reducing daily volumes of our baskets on the market, especially amongst the used-to-be well-off families. Reduction of executives and legislators benefits with their aimless foreign daily traveling on public expenses. The decision would mean strengthening and boosting the roles of foreign diplomats representing us in foreign countries. This is curtailing the number of staff accompanying them on foreign trips.
This could be summarized into a very serious austerity measure where the government would be forced to reduce the number of redundant workforce leading to an automatic reduction of the cost of maintenance. In this round, the resourceful loose hand government will embark on tough measures in controlling its worthless daily expenditures. The already government on piped projects would be withheld in order to preserve cash in areas of imminent threats like border security.
If we are to survive with less economic pressure, taxes on goods and commodities would also follow the same trend of reduction so as to impact market exorbitant prices. GoSS needs not to be told this time round that the importation of worthless “V 8” cars are less important to the public. In other parallel security sectors, like the army, police, wildlife, and fire brigade, it is a sure deal that capable, manageable, and sizeable force is what we are going for. If up to now SPLA has not to sort its poor money management of carrying money in boxes by the cashiers, this is a late call to refrain from that. SPLA general headquarters also needs to give accurate numbers of their soldiers who shall be payable through the issuance of service identity cards to avoid paying none existing officers. In regard to this former minister of Labour, Hon Awut Deng Acuil had belted hard on civil servants sometime back. Fictitious names on payrolls were weeded off.
To our brothers still engage in the battle of cattle in Jonglei, we either bury our hatchets earlier because the season would be a bad season where no neighbor minds of his neighborhoods. Already the government has got enough problems in its basket to solve with money. Maintaining huge displaced persons with together with our luxurious foreign houses or families would amount to conflicting decisions. Remember that cost of building a pipeline to rescue our potbellied stomachs is a serious bottleneck that the government would never afford to go without, likewise feeding our auxiliary machines (the auto machines and mobiles) needs the government to be on its toes.
Another area where the government needs a serious curtailment is foreign training in the name of capacity building. The government should be keen enough to shut that corridor down completely unless it is of great immediacy or unless it is sponsored by our development partners. A huge amount of money has gone to training that is fruitless at the end of the day. Example paying on scholarships and costly foreign examinations which do not have benefits even to people that they are meant for.
Atok Dan is a media specialist residing in Juba. He is reached at atokbaguot@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment