South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Waure Eddy
The Speaker of the Western Equatoria State Legislative Assembly, Wakila Charles, has called on leaders to honour the promises made during the country’s liberation struggle. She emphasised urgent needs such as education for children, healthcare, clean water, and support for farmers, urging lawmakers to focus on delivering essential services to rebuild the state’s economy and improve lives.
“It’s time we delivered the services we promised when we fought for this country. Our children need education, our people need healthcare and clean water, and our farmers need support to rebuild the economy,” the Speaker stated on Tuesday during the reopening of the Assembly.
She applauded those who attended the reopening, describing it as a demonstration of leadership and solidarity.
She emphasised forgiveness, reconciliation, and unity as the foundation for restoring development and peace across Western Equatoria.
“Let’s forgive the past and embrace love, peace, and reconciliation to move our State forward,” she said.
The Speaker encouraged partnerships with external stakeholders to bridge resource gaps and pledged full cooperation with development partners.
She commended legislators for their engagement with constituents and stressed the need to transform community concerns into impactful laws and policies.
“As we reopen this Parliament today, it’s high time for us as lawmakers to translate the challenges facing our constituencies into good laws and policies that will govern this State.”
Despite economic hardships and more than a year without salaries, Assembly administrative staff have remained committed. The Speaker acknowledged their dedication and outlined accomplishments made during the recess.
However, the Speaker did not shy away from highlighting the pressing hurdles that continue to undermine the Assembly’s effectiveness. These include insufficient funding, delayed salary payments, limited office space, mobility constraints for leaders, and a lack of adherence to the legislative calendar.
“Our administration is hampered daily in its mission to establish an efficient law-making institution.”
Addressing the acting Governor, cabinet ministers, and members of the Assembly, the Speaker proposed a set of key priorities for effective governance. These included:
As the session resumes, the Assembly is tasked with navigating these barriers while pushing forward with renewed dedication to serve the people of Western Equatoria State.
