By Taban Henry
The South Sudanese government has approved a sum of 50 million US Dollars to compensate people affected by the construction of the new Wau Bridge.
This was revealed on Friday during the Council of Ministers’ sitting after the minister of Roads and Bridges presented the demands for the people affected by the construction of the new bridge.
Addressing the media after the Council of Ministers meeting, the Minister of Information, Communication and Postal Services Michael Makuei Lueth said the money would be used to compensate people affected by the construction of the new Wau Bridge from the either sides of the river.
“A sum of 50 million dollars to be paid in compensation for those affected by the construction of the bridge but the payment should be in South Sudanese pounds. We are not supposed to be paying compensation in hard currency but rather be in local currency so this amount has been approved” Makuei said.
He said that the construction of the bridge which has taken 15 months is expected to last for 30 months adding that the Jur Bridge is still alive as it is being maintained every time.
“The minister raised three issues; one was about the name of the bridge, secondly amount to be paid to the people affected by the construction of the bridge on both sides of the river. The bridge will of course displace many people from both sides of the river and this people need to be compensated and relocated” he added.
Makuei stressed that the bridge was agreed to be called Clement Mboro Bridge adding Clement Mboro was one of the South Sudanese veteran politicians and one of the leading politicians from Wau as such the Cabinet decided to name the bridge after his name. “Other proposals were made such as Salva Kiir Bridge, Wau, Freedom Bridge but the Cabinet came out with this name in remembrance of their veteran politicians. The questions of foreign workers whose visa where expected to be paid, they thought that since this is a grant there is no need to levy taxes to those engaged in the construction of the bridge,” he explained.