Gov’t ‘not stopping’ dredging initiative despite recommendations at public consultation – Makuei

JUBA – South Sudan information minister Michael Makuei Lueth has told experts that the government is not suspending its dredging initiative despite the recommendation of halt to dredging-related activities along the Nile by the forum until when an evidence-based study is done.

The public consultation was ordered by President Salva Kiir Mayardit on the 11^th independence anniversary after a public outcry following the arrival of river dredging machines from Egypt to Unity State’s capital Bentiu via Sudan.

The forum concluded on Thursday with calls for the government of South Sudan to stop all the dredging activities and establish an independent water commission, and also for parliament to make laws to protect and regular water resources.

Speaking during the closing session of the consultation and while replying to one of the experts, Makuei asked if there is any appropriate word to use if the experts are not pleased with ‘dredging’ and said that the government is not suspending the dredging initiative ‘anyway’.

“Yes, secretariat, what are your appropriate words to replace (dredging) because you have stated that you are stopping the (dredging), isn’t?” Makuei asked. “But we are not stopping the dredging, if we are to use the correct terminology, as it was stated by the expert.”

The senior government official further said that: “What we are saying is, dredging, the way we understood it, means cleaning.”