Leer County commissioner in Unity State has issued a stern
directive to all 16 payams of Leer County to participate in a road construction
project, with the threat of removal from office for non-compliance.
The project, which commenced on 31st July 2024, is expected
to span ten days.
“Any Payam Administrator who don’t show up with his board I
will remove them and appoint another one, this is an order, a very hard and
very strong order from me, this is the same road WFP truck used to pass and now
it will damage and there will be no place for passing again. It is very
important for us to build it since we all survive from it,” Stephen Taker Riak,
Leer County Commissioner ordered.
Community members, including school children and traders,
have been actively involved in the construction since its inception.
However, the decision to involve school children,
particularly those in uniform, has sparked discontent. The children express
concerns about the lack of soap for washing their uniforms post-construction.
Despite the discontent although some children like
10-year-old Goa Kor Goh view the construction as positive move from the
commissioner.
He expressed his happiness to Leer FM, stating that the
construction would help mitigate flooding and ensure safety from reptiles.
“I’m 10 years old and I’m happy about this road construction
because cars will move and I’m calling other people to come and work with us,
after this construction, people will move free and if you move in water some
reptiles will bite you, we are very many children here that we can’t count
ourselves,” said Goa.
However, Nyakendey Gatyiek, a schoolgirl, voiced her
dissatisfaction about being forced to participate in the construction while in
her school uniform.
“I’m from Mary John primary school, I’m not happy because
the pupils have been forced to go and construct the road and some of us are
very little kids and some of us don’t know how to make it, after all, we don’t
have soap to wash our uniform, maybe our uniform can damage by digging the
soil, our parent are already here and we are here too, how can we work while in
uniform, if we were told early, we would have come on none uniform,” Nyakenydey
stated.
Elder Gatkuay Koang reported that the Rupduol area had a
turnout of 77 people, comprising 40 women and 37 men.
“I’m on the road now, someone came to me yesterday and said
the flooding has broken the road and we are here now doing it, I called
everyone to come to do it together, I told them the flood cannot take our home
that is why we are here,” Gatkuay reported.
The Payam Administrators have complied with order to
construct the road by hand due to the flooding that is encroaching upon the
spaces.
They mentioned that the governor had previously promised to
construct the road from Bentiu to Adok port, but it has since delayed which is
why they are now building the road by hand. The road extends from Leer town to
Pilieny Payam.
“The government had built the road before, but now, due to the crisis, there are no more opportunities for the government to construct the road. However, the citizens have decided to construct the road by themselves because the flood has moved in and occupied their homes. We can’t wait for the government to do it. We are constructing this road primarily for transportation purposes.” Said Ranlel Poul Ranlel, Pilieny Payam’s administrator.