By Luk Kuth Dak
November 9, 2011 — Justin Maker Bol is one of my favourite people. He did what no other South Sudanese in the United States has ever done. He’s his own boss. Besides, he is an outspoken, smart and conservative man, who cherishes family values. He attends all of his son’s football games cheering him on the side line. My daughter, Mirry Dak, is lucky to have him as her uncle.
If he were born in the US, where talents could have been discovered early on and developed, he could have been like Bill O’Reilly, of the O’Reilly Factor, Rush Limbaugh, or even Larry King, respectively.
Maker remains one of the few voices of wisdom and reasoning with in the Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM). A few weeks ago, I rang him up at his residence in Ohio, to inform him that the party he’s been so loyal to his entire life has just made an irreparable harm by importing Islamic teachers from the North, to teach Islam in public schools in South Sudan!
Here’s Justin in his own words:
“The history of Sudan teaches us since the Mahdist, Aboot, Nemiry, through Al- Bashir, now that Islam was/is a source of intolerance, extremism and Jihad. During both civil wars, he continued, the Anyana one and the SPLA, North Sudan had declared Jihad against South Sudan. Islam was used as a weapon to rape, enslave, and kill the non-Muslims in South Sudan. More so, conversion to Islam was more than enough qualification for a South Sudanese to get a high government position in Sudan. The list of brutalities committed in the name if Islam is never-ending.”
He went on to say: “But today’s opinion is not about the past, but the future for South Sudan, the choices that must be made, and certainly, the priorities the government has to undertake in securing that future. Currently, and for the obvious reasons, the Arabs states and governments are flowing in support to South Sudan’s Muslims (SSM.) From the invitation of 100 pilgrims by Saudi King, Abdullah bin Abdulazziz, to the establishment of (Al Madrasa) by pragmatist, to this extreme idea by the ministry of education in the government of South Sudan to bring in hundreds of teachers from North Sudan to teach Islam in our public schools. Really, is South Sudan national interest reliance upon Islamic teaching? The burning question is: Did the ministry of education complete its priorities in setting up primary education? Sounds good for a ministry of education who has equipped its schools with high technology standard.”
“I am not against Islam. Truly, the South Sudan Muslims have the right to enjoy full religious freedom, but the inconsistent standards, lack of vision, accountability, absence of curriculum, extremism, and radical ideology impose real risk that should not be ignored.”
I could not agree more with Maker. Having lived in America for decades, I do not believe that the state has any business in dictating practices of one religion on its people, especially those who have been victims of that religion.
The state and religion should stay independent of each other. In particular, South Sudan has a long road to stability. So, a secular form of government should be employed.
The author is a former anchorman at Juba Radio. He can be reached via e-mail at lukedak@hotmail.com.

Taxing "Sin" Alcohol and tobacco for education funding

By Justin Maker
November 12, 2011 (SSNA) -- Development Challenges facing South Sudan are too many in all aspects of life just to say the least.  The government is trying its best to do much with the little unsustainable crude oil revenue which every development project rely upon. Oil money represent about 98% of the total budget and 2% of the total budget comes from taxation and other means.
Let’s take a moment for a second to examine the area education and principally primary education and how is funded. Education is the paramount development of any nation as its involved human capital. Human capital investment in education is the mother of all developments being healthcare, constructions, technology, and etc.
To keep the record straight, South Sudan has the lowest access rate to primary education in the world after Afghanistan. South Sudan lacks the data source for its educational resources, only 9% percent of girls attend school and less than five percent complete high school. Many teachers are not trained. Most schools are without proper buildings, classes meet under trees, most classes have no seating, no latrines, and majority have no safe drinking water.
As important as education to the future of the Republic of South Sudan, the government shall not rely on oil money as the only option of funding primary education. Education is not a privilege to any nation but a human right. South Sudan children have the right to get education regardless of sources of funding. It is our national interest to provide this basic need to our children and our country. Talking is done and work and accountability must begin, luxury cars and homes are not investment at this moment.
Reliance on oil revenue for education must stop and let the government examine other options to provide revenue for education and secure the future of our children. Methods of providing revenues to this important topic must be place on the table. National government, Local, and State authorities shall provide revenue to schools districts. Using three ways methodology, federal or national government, local “predominately tax revenue”, State “basic aide and other specific warrantee funding”.
As I stated above that the government shall not rely on oil money to fund education. The national government shall exercise its options including generating revenues from taxing “SINS” Alcohol And Tobacco. Alcohol and tobacco use is the largest risk of oral cancer and imposes a significant burden at our national services. Alcohol and tobacco use is already high in our country and therefore it makes sense to generate revenues from its source. A mandatory tax on alcohol and tobacco manufacturing, licensing, and sales will generate enough and guarantee revenues for education. In fact, this option if implemented has more potential to grow faster than inflation. No alcohol and tobacco license shall be granted to business owner unless all national, local and State obligation are on good standing or paid.
Co-operations and businesses who violets these provisions must be penalized. It is time for co-operations and businesses to pay their share.
Local Revenues: be generated from multiple sources “school district tax to local business operators and property tax”. We must own our destiny
State Revenues”; depending on the state for example border state can generate school district revenues from entrance and exit visas, and states that produces oil attached an exercise tax to oil companies and etc.
We need smaller and smarter government that is creative in services delivery as well as performance. Why do most officials have drivers? Why does every government office need a messenger? Any way that a different topic which need to be address on another article.
The author is a businessman in Columbus, Ohio, President and CEO of Machol, LLC & Amor, Inc. He can be reach via @ jumaker@hotmail.com