By Bida Elly David
Members of the National Legislative Assembly (R-TNLA) on Monday observed a moment of silence for late Bishop Emeritus Paride Taban of the Catholic Archdiocese of Torit, before adjourning the sitting.
Clerk to the National Assembly, Makuc Makuc then declared adjourning of the sitting till Wednesday, to allow MPs to participate in receiving the body of the late Bishop, today.
“We may have sitting in the morning if the body of Bishop Paride Taban will be brought in the afternoon, if not, we will have sitting on Wednesday,” Makuc said.
The national MPs were on Monday, supposed to have a session questioning ministers on the appreciation of the dollar against the local currency.
In addition, the August House was supposed to tackle South Sudan-Uganda border disputes and the influx of South Sudanese refugees from Ethiopia.
Meanwhile, John Agany, the spokesperson of the parliament told journalists that Bishop Paride deserved tribute, as one of the contributors in the liberation movement.
“Late Bishop Taban was one of the prominent elements in South Sudan, through his theological legacy during the liberation,’’ Agany said
He said “Paride is one of the elements who have worked very much to bring the present peace that we are now enjoying.’’
Agany also noted that the late Paride played a role in strengthening the national parliament to represent the voice of the voiceless.
“His contribution was also very significant for South Sudan to realize the comprehensive agreement with the Sudan. We lost a significant person,’’ he stated.
Meanwhile, the Director of Social Communication in the Catholic Archdiocese of Juba, Fr. Charles Busak appreciated the parliamentarians for paying tribute to the late Bishop Paride Taban.
“The parliamentarians paid their tribute to Emeritus Paride Taban from different angles because late Paride was a man of all people in different capacities,’’ he said.
He said the MPs have a full mandate due to the fact that some parliamentarians witnessed what the late did to bring peace throughout the liberation struggle.
“I am sure that among those who are in the parliament, most of them have been together either in the liberation areas or in their meetings somewhere,’’ he noted.
Moreover, Father Busak applauded the MPs for being so kind and merciful in remembrance of the soul of the late Paride.
He noted that the legacy of the Late Bishop Emeritus Paride shall always be remembered in the history of South Sudan.
Fr. Busak noted that the Church hopes for parliamentary participation in the burial of the Late Bishop in Torit, on Friday.