South Sudan Central Bank Governor, Finance Minister Boycott MPs' Summons
Elisabeth Janaina
South Sudan Central Bank Governor, Finance Minister Boycott MPs' Summons
The Governor of the South Sudan Central Bank, Kornelio Koriom and the Minister of Finance Aggrey Tisa have today failed to appear before the Parliament for the second time following a summon to give a statement on the decision to devalue the South Sudanese Pounds.
By Waakhe Simon Wudu
JUBA, 20 November 2013 [Gurtong] - The absence of the two senior government officials left MPs irritated.
The parliamentarians said the absence of the officials is a violation of the call of the parliament, calling it disrespect.
There was no official communication according to the Speaker Hon. Manas Magok Rundial as to why the two officials absented themselves, provoking an emotional debate that rocked in the August House for over half an hour.
Manas was later compelled to rule out the debate, saying the House has to continue waiting until the two officials appear.
However, the ruling was protested by several of the MPs including the SPLM members, disagreeing with the Speaker and threatening to pass any verdict in the absence of the two officials.
Tisa and Kornelio were summoned last week by the parliament to explain why they devalued the South Sudanese pounds, a move that has emotionally created wider concern.
The two officials were supposed to appear last Monday, however, ahead of the well-anticipated sitting, an abrupt announcement called off the sitting.
Hon. Moses Bidali told press that the absence of the two is a total violation of the constitution, saying the issue is an urgent matter.
“We are mounting more pressure on the Speaker to make sure that, these guys appear here as soon as possible,” Bidali said.