The Minister of Livestock and Fisheries Onyeti Adigo has pointed an accusing finger at traders for misusing free market system in the country.
Onyeti stated during the launch of the first National Trade Forum on Thursday that the same produce has varied prices due to the misuse of the free trade system.
“I think is good. We challenge ourselves because people are misusing what we call free market. Free market all over the world. It is being misused in South Sudan here. Because I tell you now. I go to the market,”
“If you can answer this question of mine. I get my pen in one shop [at SSP] 10,000, In another shop [at SSP] 15,000 [and] in another shop [at SSP] 20,000. Why should we differ and take the same pen? Why? Because of misuse of what? Of free market. Isn’t it? This misuse of free market,”
He empathized that since the dollar rate in black market is the same then why disparity in price tag.
“Some of you will say, we are buying dollars from the black market. But is the rate of the black market for dollars different or the same? Is it different or the same? It is the same. But why should we differentiate? In the market,”
However, Onyeti added that that this might be because some powerful government officials are involved in the market, which is wrong.
Mr. Onyeti also pointed accusing finger at traders and some private firms of failing to remit personal income tax to the government.
“I think cash is more important than the people. But again, you go to the bank, there is no cash. Who is holding this cash? It is you. The business people are the ones holding the cash. They are fighting the government,” he inquired.
“Who developed the black market? How much black market is it? Public sector or private sector? Some individual getting up early in the morning, don’t like this, and all of you will run. And those making it are foreigners by the way, not South Sudanese,”
He claimed that the country is failing because South Sudanese are not patriotic enough to build their country.
“So I think, we need to change. I think this meeting; all of the ministers should bring a change,”
“Because without change, we continue like this, then you are fighting the government. You will be fighting the government. We in the public sector, we will bring up some laws, or we will bring up some national measures, of all what is happening now,”