Juba parliament splits over removal of fuel subsidy

[Elisabeth Janaina]

Juba parliament splits over removal of fuel subsidy

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February 10, 2017 (JUBA)- South Sudanese lawmakers have expressed
mixed reactions about removal of fuel subsidy, with some welcoming the
decision and others saying it would increase the prices.

JPEG - 22.7 kb
Members of South Sudan’s parliament sing the national anthem during
the reopening of parliamentary sessions in the capital, Juba, on 11
June 2012 (Photo: Giulio Petrocco/AFP/Getty)

A high level MP from Jonglei state told Sudan Tribune on Friday that
he is afraid the removal of fuel subsidy could exacerbate the
suffering of the people, since fuel prices may increase. “I am afraid
this decision wouldn’t solve anything, said the legislator who
preferred to remain anonymous.

“What happened to exchange rate which people thought would equalize
the exchange rate and reduce the black dealings,” asked the lawmaker?

The lawmaker said he and several other members expressed different
views when the request was presented to the house by the minister of
finance but their views were ignored.

“Although we were the majority, the minority views prevailed and I
believe this is what the minister is citing as the approval of the
parliament. If the speaker and some members have accepted his request,
it does not mean the (majority of MPs) have accepted. How did MPs
accept it this request. Was it put to voting in the house? No. It was
not,” he stressed.

While the legislators deny approving the request, Finance Minister
Stephen Dhieu Dau said on Thursday and repeated it Friday that his
institution was now working on the decision of the parliament.

“We are working out how to address the issue of fuel shortage now that
the transitional national legislative assembly has given Nilepet a
permission to remove fuel subsidy”, Minister Dau told reporters on
Friday.

He insisted that the decision to remove fuel subsidy was in the
interest of the nation and was the reason it was included his request
during the presentation of annual budget for this year.

The government-run oil company procures fuel outside the country and
sells a litter once it is imported at the cost of 22 pounds at the
petrol filling stations. But citizens have always complained of lack
of fuel at the designated fuel stations, even when they stay in line
for hours.

Many claims senior government officials and military officers use
their influence and privileges by the virtues of their offices to get
fuel from the Nilepet, a commercial arm of the government sends it to
the black market where it is sold at the prices higher than the
official charge.

(ST)
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Kind regards,

The Sudan Tribune editorial team.

11 February 06:52, by Eastern

This "Parliament" (Kiir’s rubber stamp) can continue to deny the
obvious but the truth will prevail. Kiir’s government can’t sustain
subsidy on any commodity in South Sudan. The country’s economy has
collapsed. Who asked Kiir to squander the country’s resources on a
futile war? Now all eyes on JCE and their commander Paul Malong!!!!