Author: James Atem Kuir | Published: 10 hours ago
Minister of Culture, Museums and National Heritage Sarah Nyanath Yong and Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development Michael Changjiek Gay – Courtesy photo.
The Minister of Culture, Museums and National Heritage, Sarah Nyanath, has called for cultural heritage to be protected and considered in the planning and development of Juba.
Nyanath made the call yesterday during a meeting with the Minister of Land and Housing, Michael Chiangjiek Gay, to discuss land administration, heritage protection and urban development.
The two ministries discussed the need to identify and protect historic sites, buildings, monuments, memorials and cultural landscapes in Juba.
They also called for the protection of public cultural spaces, museums, cultural institutions and historically significant place names.
The ministries agreed on the need for clear development controls around protected heritage sites and for heritage considerations to be included in future urban planning.
The meeting also discussed the Boma-Badingilo Migratory Landscape and other nationally significant heritage areas where land administration, conservation and urban development overlap.
The two sides agreed to strengthen technical coordination by appointing focal points, sharing maps and relevant information, and developing joint recommendations to address policy gaps.
Minister Michael Chiangjiek welcomed the discussions and said the Land Policy provides guidelines for land administration and defines boundaries relating to land and other assets.
He, however, noted that there is currently no clear division of assets, particularly land, between the national and state governments.
Chiangjiek proposed that the two ministries’ undersecretaries serve as focal points and work with technical experts to advance the issues discussed.
He also encouraged Minister Nyanath to prepare a memo for the Office of the President outlining the issues and proposed way forward.
The two ministries say continued cooperation is needed to ensure Juba’s urban development is aligned with the protection and preservation of South Sudan’s cultural heritage.
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