Opinion: Theresa May’s Statement undermines her own leadership…

The vision we had of Brexit is fading away – and we are running out of time to save it” – Theresa May on the 7th April 2019

On the 14th July 2016, Theresa May became Prime Minister after the Brexit Referendum. However, her Government triggered the Article 50 in March 2017 and had final date of leaving in the European Union on the 29th March 2019. On this date, the European Commission accepted that the Brexit final leaving date got to 12th April 2019. However, if that is the final is yet not sure. Even if it just mere days ahead.

What Prime Minister Theresa May have proven with her statement to the public. As she held her plea to the public and sat on the coach. She shown the world, what an utter mess she has created, what sort of weak government, which has had over 30 Ministers to resign in her time in office. In retrospect’s to have that many leaving you for various isn’t a sign of strength, but a sign of weakness. This government on average have “lost” an Minister or anyone appointed by the PM, every single month since its inception. That is a unique feature of someone promising to be strong and stable.

However, the Brexit dynamics is shown in this lax approach to governing. As the negotiations and diplomatic efforts, been more a begging and pledging to get confidence, than actually serving the Kingdom. This is shown in the Declarations and the Withdrawal Agreement, which by all means can be said to catastrophic documents of missing the mark as a sovereign and as a future trading partner. Where the Department for Exiting the European Union (DEXEU) have really fled the scene and most likely just enjoyed spoils of foreign trips away from London. Because, it doesn’t look like they were meaning serious business. All the beneficial for the EU.

So, with all that mind, as the Tories have been wondering in oblivion, as they have kept the public in the dark for so long. They didn’t release possible damage of the various outcomes and now that its getting close to a closure. The reactions, the response and the possible visible costs of the process will come. The narrow and depriving “No-Deal”, which will cost a lot, make the business jump hurdles and even hurt the Good Friday Agreement. However, in the mix and scheme of things, this seems forgotten.

As the Prime Minister has promised for long, that she will honour the will of the people. That businesses, the stakeholders and everyone involved will be taken care off. While, the Brexit will be determined and ended with an Agreement. However, she has made an agreement, that no one likes. Surely, not even Brussels like it, because they have planned for a “No-Deal” and the consequences of that for a while. While the Parliament, cannot manage to agree on anything, except for postponing it and sending the PM on begging mission across Dover.

What are seeing, a PM whose lost, begging for time. A time that she doesn’t have, a visions she never shown and a determination, that this Tories government never had. Because if it did, it would have made a grandeur effort and shown finesse since her takeover and also, since she sent the letter to European Commission notifying them of leaving. We have not seen any progression, anything significant, that been promising of a peaceful journey. Instead, it has been muffled, played the facade and been jeering the crowds at the PMQ at the House of Commons. This sort of show has to stop.

The PM should know this. That her statement and her ultimatum is a bit late. Londinium is already burning. There is no fireworks and no festival of this enterprise, only hope for redemption and salvage whatever that is left. Which is not much, because this Brexit has been played out all wrong.

The Tories are losing, the public is losing and the EU is loosing too. Everyone is paying the price because of the British confidence, but lack of hard work from career politicians. They are safeguarded anyway-

What we will see in the coming days are the self-inflicted pain, that many foresaw, but the Tories never wanted to spell out. The Tories and the PM never accepted the brutal reality of the price of leaving the Union at this point. They are more into their own pride and longing for being sovereign without thinking, what it would do to them. However, the British and the United Kingdom is a lost cause. Unless, the public are going again on the streets. Showing in the final moment, that they want to revoke article 50 and have a second referendum. Not that the PM wants that.

She is betting everything on a bankrupt enterprise and just want to ensure, that all the bridges are burned and there is no way to cross. Since, she wants to at least have delivered a Brexit. Even if it means self destruction and also hurting the economy. Peace.

Brexit: Chris Heaton-Harris MP resignation letter to Prime Minister Theresa May (03.04.2019)

BoU Scandal: AG Muwanga letter to Deputy Governor of BoU – “Special Audit on the UGX 479bn Injected into Crane Bank Limited by BoU” (04.04.2019)

USA: Rep. Richard Neal letter to IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig subpoena for the President Trump’s Tax Returns (03.04.2019)

London Tribunal rules that Djibouti has breached Doraleh Container Terminal’s rights (04.04.2019)

Tribunal orders Djibouti to pay DCT $385 million plus interest for breach of Doraleh Container Terminal SA (DCT)’s exclusivity.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, April 4, 2019 –  Doraleh Container Terminal SA (DCT), a Djibouti port operator owned 33.34% by DP World Group, and 66.66% by Port de Djibouti S.A., an entity of the Republic of Djibouti, has been successful in the London Court of International Arbitration proceeding against the Republic of Djibouti. The Tribunal has found that by developing new container port opportunities with China Merchants Holdings International Co Limited (China Merchants), a Hong-Kong based port operator, Djibouti has breached DCT’s rights under its 2006 Concession Agreement to develop a container terminal at Doraleh, in Djibouti, specifically, its exclusivity over all container handling facilities in the territory of Djibouti.

The Tribunal ordered Djibouti to pay DCT $385 million plus interest for breach of DCT’s exclusivity by development of container facilities at Doraleh Multipurpose Terminal, with further damages possible if Djibouti develops a planned Doraleh International Container Terminal (DICT) with any other operator without the consent of DP World. The Tribunal found that “In respect of the development of the Djibouti Multipurpose Port (DMP) facility, the facts are clear. At no stage before the decision was made to go ahead with that facility with China Merchants did … Djibouti … offer … DCT … the right to develop the proposed container facilities at the DMP. Djibouti was therefore in breach of clause 3.6.3 of the [Concession Agreement]”. China Merchants also operates a $3.5 billion free trade zone it developed pursuant to an agreement with Djibouti, in contravention of DP World’s exclusive right to develop and operate such a free zone under its own concession, which is the subject of other litigation proceedings.

The Tribunal also ordered Djibouti to pay DCT $148 million for historic non-payment of royalties for container traffic not transferred to DCT once it became operational. Djibouti is also ordered to pay DCT’s legal costs.

The Tribunal’s Award recognises that the 2006 Concession Agreement remains valid and binding, as has also been confirmed by another LCIA arbitration tribunal and the London courts. This is the fifth substantial ruling in DCT and DP World’s favour on disputes relating to the Doraleh terminal. DCT and DP World continue to seek to uphold their legal rights in a number of legal fora, following Djibouti’s unlawful efforts to expel DP World from Djibouti and transfer the port operation to Chinese interests. Litigation against China Merchants also continues before the Hong Kong courts. DP World has previously issued public notices, following the confirmation of the validity of the 2006 Concession Agreement in a judgment in 2018, warning others against interfering with its and DCT’s concession rights.

UNRA: Public Notice – Restoration of the Pavement Layer (Asphalt) and Waterproofing on the Source of the Nile Bridge (03.04.2019)

DPP’s Statement on ongoing investigations into the Kimwarer and Arror Dams (03.04.2019)

WFP Statement On Access To Jet Fuel in Zimbabwe (03.04.2019)

Source of the River Nile Bridge: Apparently, a Bumpy Road!

There are sometimes some stories, that are sounding more like fiction, than actual reality. In this manner, I have the same feeling. What is happening to the Source of the River Nile Bridge shouldn’t be happening. Since President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni commissioned the opening of the bridge on the 17th October 2018. Already in late January, about 28th January 2019, just mere months into use of the Bridge. There was crack in the asphalt and with the surface of the bridge. It was starting to look bad. Therefore, the Uganda National Road Authority (UNRA) and the engineers went in to change the surface and the tarmac. However, that has not helped, as the problem has resurfaced.

As of 2nd April and such. There is new bumps(which been reported the last 48 hours by the Observer), already of the second time asphalt and tarmac on the surface of the bridge. Certainly, the costs of the bridge, the amounts of companies involved in this bridge. They should know what to do as contractors. Still, these companies together with UNRA is failing to do their mission. To make a surface viable for the weather condition and usage of the motorists. That is why it gets bumps and cracks this quick.

Government of Uganda in the Financial year 2010/2011 acquired a loan accounting to US Dollar 102 Million (about Ug. shs. 232 Billion) to fund the construction of the Source of the Nile Bridge Project. Uganda National Road’s Authority (UNRA) on behalf of Government of Uganda contracted Joint Venture of Zerilaka Corporation and Hyundai Engineering and Construction Co. Ltd, a Japanese company to undertake the construction of the Bridge. The Construction of the Bridge started on 14th April 20l4 and by May 2018, the works on the main bridge structure were completed” (P: 5, 2019).

The Committee was informed that the main bridge structure would last 120 years, water proofing materials for 20 years and the Bridge Deck Asphalt for 1O- 15 years. The Committee was further informed that the main bridge structure is structurally sound with no single defect. However to ensure the longevity of bridge deck a 4mm synthetic waterproof membrane was used in between the concrete bridge deck to surface and 70mm thick asphalt wearing course but due to lack of proper bond, the asphalt surface course was unable to withstand the shearing force applied to it by the passage of traffic”(P: 7, 2019).

Information received by the Committee revealed that a total of approximately 1.3 million Us Dollars was incurred by the contractor doing the repairs to remedy the defects. Members may wish to note that the said bridge deck asphalt was meant to last for a lifespan of 10-15 years therefore replacement” (P: 9, 2019).

The Committee is constrained to believe that there was laxity on the side of UNRA to closely supervise and monitor the work of the contractor on the new Bridge. Three months after the commissioning of the bridge, defects were detected due to traffic on the bridge” (P: 12, 2019).

The Parliament Committee surely doesn’t give way on this matter, as it shouldn’t. Because UNRA and its contractors should have tested, gotten knowledge and known what type of asphalt or tarmac is needed to be steady on the bridge. As the humidity and the planned amount of pressure because of traffic. Should have been studied and configured to the bridge and its final layer. However, that hasn’t happen. Even if the project has been loaned millions upon millions of United State Dollars.

What is really striking, the deck asphalt was supposed to last between 10-15 years, but only lasted mere months. The second layer lasted from the end of January 2019 until now in the March 2019/early April 2019. The second layer was as bad for the bridge as the second one. Certainly, the UNRA and the contractors should be horrified of their shoddy work on the public’s dime. This is impressive in all the wrong ways. This isn’t a typo, this is a blend of asphalt and the lack of due diligence.

$1.3m USD has been spent on the second layer alone. This is a hefty payment over a lack of proper work by all parties involved. Certainly, the UNRA, the Ministry of Works and Transport and anyone else involved in this matter. Should be questioned and a further investigation. Since, the government authority, the ministries involved and all of the stakeholders should answer, why there wasn’t done proper preparation for a project cost of $102m USD loan, which the state will pay back in full.

We can certainly state that all parties didn’t do their job or even find out what was needed. Nevertheless, this shows an ignorance and lack of professionalism, which is again reflects on the surface of newly built bridge. Peace.

Reference:

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF BUMPS ALONG THAT NEW BRIDGE ON RIVER, NILE, JINJA (February 2019).

Bank of Uganda: Monetary Policy Statement for April 2019 (01.04.2019)