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2006年VOA标准英语-Concerns Raised Over Proposed Infrastructure Pr

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(单词翻译)

By Cathy Majtenyi
Nairobi
06 October 2006

Many Kenyans are criticizing a controversial proposal by a Kuwaiti company to develop the historic area of Lamu on Kenya's north coast, saying that the proposal has not followed proper procurement1 procedures and gives away too much of the country's resources and sovereignty.

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Kenya
Kenya
   
     
Al-Bader International Development Company first presented its proposal to the Kenyan government during a conference in March aimed at attracting investment into southern Sudan, a conference that Al-Bader International itself had co-organized.

The Kuwaiti company wants to build a commercial port, beach resort, airport, oil refinery2 and a railway, road, pipeline3 and fiber4 optic network in the historic Lamu area, an investment of around 20 billion dollars. The company is asking for free trade zones to be set up in the area.

Daudi Waithaka heads the Kenya-Sudan liaison5 office, a unit within the Office of the president that facilitates Kenyan business investment in southern Sudan.

Waithaka, who is pushing the proposal currently being examined by Ministry6 of Transport and other officials, explains to VOA why the Al-Bader proposal would be good for Kenya.

"The whole of eastern and northern Kenya has been marginalized for years. How come? No infrastructure7. We can sit here and wait until we can raise some loans to build a road here, a road there," he said. "But their system will open up the whole of northern Kenya, the whole of eastern Kenya. New industries - for example, we have deposits of cement, coal, iron ore - these will be developed. If we link into Ethiopia, that's a market for Kenyan goods."

But what has critics raising eyebrows8 is what the company is expecting in return.

The original proposal calls for Al-Bader International to own the land in the Lamu area for a minimum of 20 years, during which the company can sell or lease that land without having to go through the Kenyan government.

All cargo9 vessels10 would be re-routed from the current port of Mombasa and could only load at the company's Lamu port. And, according to the proposal, Al-Bader would not be required to pay any taxes and would have the right to charge and collect user fees from the projects.

A letter written by Treasury11 Permanent Secretary Joseph Kinyua on July 7 expressed concerns about the company's tax exemption12, the government's lack of control over the project's implementation13, and other issues, and recommended that the government not sign a Memorandum14 of Understanding with the company unless substantial protective measures are put in place.

Earlier, on June 22, Solicitor15 General Wanjuki Muchemi outlined his problems with the proposal, which he says, in his words, grants the company absolute, unconditional16 rights in every respect of the project with virtually no fixed17 term.

He calls for the government to explain how Al-Bader International was selected for the project and provide more information about the company.

Kenyan economist18 and businessman Robert Shaw says he cannot see how the Kenyan government will collect any revenue from the project in at least two decades.

"All I can see is them saying, we will do X, Y, and Z, we will get all the benefits from it for 20 years, and we will hand it back after 20 years. It's a bit like being asked to sign a blank check for a whole area of activity on a rather large piece of land," he said. "The thing [proposal] is like ceding19 sovereignty. It's a completely open-ended deal. It's asking for a hell of a lot and if this government or this country was to make a commitment to this, we don't really know how extensive that commitment would be."

Shaw accuses Al-Bader International of using the Sudan investment conference as a way of by-passing the procurement process to get its proposal to the Kenyan government.

The Kenya-Sudan liaison office's Waithaka says the original proposal seen by VOA has been updated so that the government will be collecting some tax revenue, particularly concerning the resort city, although he would not specify20 the exact financial gains that the government would be getting from the project.

Waithaka rejects the idea that Al-Bader International has by-passed Kenya's procurement process or international procurement standards, saying that a government task force has been making presentations to investors21 and financial institutions for more than two years.

He said, "Well, it's been said we have not advertised, waited 41 days and then got the offer. But what is advertising22? Is it just putting things in the newspaper? Or when you sit and talk to a whole lot of investors from around the world, and you say, this is what we are thinking, give us an offer, isn't that a form of advertising?"

Waithaka says Al-Bader International is heading a consortium of companies in the project, and there is still room for other companies to join the project.

The people of Lamu themselves have mixed reactions to Al-Bader International's proposal, with some supporting the development while others saying that the infrastructure and resort city could harm the area's conservative culture and fragile environment.

Omar Samau is chairman of Lamu County Council. He says that the project could be good for the area, but only under certain conditions.

"We would like to be part and parcel in terms of revenue collection. There must be some fees which the county council will be getting," he said. "I would like to see the Lamu community [being] given priority in terms of jobs, employment. We do welcome it [the project], but there must be a way that the Lamu community will benefit directly."

Samau says that an Al-Bader International delegation23 met with the council several months ago to briefly24 explain the project, but has not heard from them since. He says his council and other local officials should be included in the negotiations25 currently taking place.

Lamu District is located along Kenya's north coast and is made up of several islands including Lamu, Manda, and Pate26. It is largely an agricultural and fishing community. Lamu is the oldest town in Kenya dating back to the 14th century and the only Swahili settlement in the country made up of people with mixed Arab and African descent.


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1 procurement 6kzzu9     
n.采购;获得
参考例句:
  • He is in charge of the procurement of materials.他负责物资的采购。
  • More and more,human food procurement came to have a dominant effect on their evolution.人类获取食物愈来愈显著地影响到人类的进化。
2 refinery QiayX     
n.精炼厂,提炼厂
参考例句:
  • They built a sugar refinery.他们建起了一座榨糖厂。
  • The purpose of oil refinery is to refine crude petroleum.炼油厂的主要工作是提炼原油。
3 pipeline aNUxN     
n.管道,管线
参考例句:
  • The pipeline supplies Jordan with 15 per cent of its crude oil.该管道供给约旦15%的原油。
  • A single pipeline serves all the houses with water.一条单管路给所有的房子供水。
4 fiber NzAye     
n.纤维,纤维质
参考例句:
  • The basic structural unit of yarn is the fiber.纤维是纱的基本结构单元。
  • The material must be free of fiber clumps.这种材料必须无纤维块。
5 liaison C3lyE     
n.联系,(未婚男女间的)暖昧关系,私通
参考例句:
  • She acts as a liaison between patients and staff.她在病人与医护人员间充当沟通的桥梁。
  • She is responsible for liaison with researchers at other universities.她负责与其他大学的研究人员联系。
6 ministry kD5x2     
n.(政府的)部;牧师
参考例句:
  • They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
  • We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。
7 infrastructure UbBz5     
n.下部构造,下部组织,基础结构,基础设施
参考例句:
  • We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
  • We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设,发展各类群众文化。
8 eyebrows a0e6fb1330e9cfecfd1c7a4d00030ed5     
眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Eyebrows stop sweat from coming down into the eyes. 眉毛挡住汗水使其不能流进眼睛。
  • His eyebrows project noticeably. 他的眉毛特别突出。
9 cargo 6TcyG     
n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物
参考例句:
  • The ship has a cargo of about 200 ton.这条船大约有200吨的货物。
  • A lot of people discharged the cargo from a ship.许多人从船上卸下货物。
10 vessels fc9307c2593b522954eadb3ee6c57480     
n.血管( vessel的名词复数 );船;容器;(具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的)人
参考例句:
  • The river is navigable by vessels of up to 90 tons. 90 吨以下的船只可以从这条河通过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • All modern vessels of any size are fitted with radar installations. 所有现代化船只都有雷达装置。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
11 treasury 7GeyP     
n.宝库;国库,金库;文库
参考例句:
  • The Treasury was opposed in principle to the proposals.财政部原则上反对这些提案。
  • This book is a treasury of useful information.这本书是有价值的信息宝库。
12 exemption 3muxo     
n.豁免,免税额,免除
参考例句:
  • You may be able to apply for exemption from local taxes.你可能符合资格申请免除地方税。
  • These goods are subject to exemption from tax.这些货物可以免税。
13 implementation 2awxV     
n.实施,贯彻
参考例句:
  • Implementation of the program is now well underway.这一项目的实施现在行情看好。
14 memorandum aCvx4     
n.备忘录,便笺
参考例句:
  • The memorandum was dated 23 August,2008.备忘录上注明的日期是2008年8月23日。
  • The Secretary notes down the date of the meeting in her memorandum book.秘书把会议日期都写在记事本上。
15 solicitor vFBzb     
n.初级律师,事务律师
参考例句:
  • The solicitor's advice gave me food for thought.律师的指点值得我深思。
  • The solicitor moved for an adjournment of the case.律师请求将这个案件的诉讼延期。
16 unconditional plcwS     
adj.无条件的,无限制的,绝对的
参考例句:
  • The victorious army demanded unconditional surrender.胜方要求敌人无条件投降。
  • My love for all my children is unconditional.我对自己所有孩子的爱都是无条件的。
17 fixed JsKzzj     
adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的
参考例句:
  • Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗?
  • Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定,我们就不应该随意改变。
18 economist AuhzVs     
n.经济学家,经济专家,节俭的人
参考例句:
  • He cast a professional economist's eyes on the problem.他以经济学行家的眼光审视这个问题。
  • He's an economist who thinks he knows all the answers.他是个经济学家,自以为什么都懂。
19 ceding be4d91be216815a1a3b9db30eff43c53     
v.让给,割让,放弃( cede的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • He was ceding line but more slowly all the time. 他正在放出钓索,然而越来越慢了。 来自英汉文学 - 老人与海
  • Settlement would require ceding some Egyptian territory. 解决办法将要求埃及让出一些领土。 来自辞典例句
20 specify evTwm     
vt.指定,详细说明
参考例句:
  • We should specify a time and a place for the meeting.我们应指定会议的时间和地点。
  • Please specify what you will do.请你详述一下你将做什么。
21 investors dffc64354445b947454450e472276b99     
n.投资者,出资者( investor的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
  • a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会
22 advertising 1zjzi3     
n.广告业;广告活动 a.广告的;广告业务的
参考例句:
  • Can you give me any advice on getting into advertising? 你能指点我如何涉足广告业吗?
  • The advertising campaign is aimed primarily at young people. 这个广告宣传运动主要是针对年轻人的。
23 delegation NxvxQ     
n.代表团;派遣
参考例句:
  • The statement of our delegation was singularly appropriate to the occasion.我们代表团的声明非常适合时宜。
  • We shall inform you of the date of the delegation's arrival.我们将把代表团到达的日期通知你。
24 briefly 9Styo     
adv.简单地,简短地
参考例句:
  • I want to touch briefly on another aspect of the problem.我想简单地谈一下这个问题的另一方面。
  • He was kidnapped and briefly detained by a terrorist group.他被一个恐怖组织绑架并短暂拘禁。
25 negotiations af4b5f3e98e178dd3c4bac64b625ecd0     
协商( negotiation的名词复数 ); 谈判; 完成(难事); 通过
参考例句:
  • negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
  • Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。
26 pate pmqzS9     
n.头顶;光顶
参考例句:
  • The few strands of white hair at the back of his gourd-like pate also quivered.他那长在半个葫芦样的头上的白发,也随着笑声一齐抖动着。
  • He removed his hat to reveal a glowing bald pate.他脱下帽子,露出了发亮的光头。

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