The November 16 to 18, 2011 meeting x-rayed the prevailing situation in the region and identified strategies to stabilize security.
Governor Koumpa Issa, flanked by the Attorney General of the South West, Chief Justice Fonkwe Joseph, all the six Senior Divisional Officers and heads of security forces, has called on the public to cooperate with local administrative officials to surmount security challenges during this sensitive end of year period. He was speaking in Bangem, headquarters of Kupe-Muanenguba Division during the quarterly Regional Security Coordination Meeting (CCO).
The Governor made an in-depth review of the major issues in the Region in the administrative, political, security, economic and socio-cultural domains since July 17, 2011. A synopsis of his review reveals that the intensity of administrative action was measured by visits to the region of nine ministers for various reasons, chieftaincy governance that functioned normally and the ethnic clash between the M’mouckbie and Bessali people of Lebialem Division. Local councils continued to receive PNDP (Community-driven Development Programme) assistance without major hitches, cheques worth FCFA 242 million were distributed to 65 Common Initiative Groups, in addition to President Biya’s special gift of fertilizers and pesticides to farmers.
Unfortunately, the poor state of roads, worsened by heavy rainfall slowed down economic activities. The physical and financial execution rate of the public investment budget “was particularly low as they presently stand at 60.05 per cent and 37.36 per cent respectively,” he explained. The opening of the new school year kicked off smoothly, but in the University of Buea, the long-standing conflict between rival student factions, the university administration and lecturers’ union (SYNES), negatively affected learning in the institution. The health sector was dominated by the campaign for the distribution of long-lasting insecticide bed nets and the inauguration of the newly constructed Haemodialysis Centre in Buea while there were intense political activities geared towards the presidential election, etc.
The Governor regretted some incidents that seriously threatened peace in the region. A huge stock of ammunition disappeared from the armoury of the Naval Base in Limbe. There was an attempt to blow up the Elections Cameroon, ELECAM office in Limbe, the death of two gendarmes during an attack between Isangele and Idibanyanga on election day on October 9, 2011, an attack by pirates on the advanced Maritime Post of the 21st BAFUMAR at Lobe Beach on the night of 6 November 2011 with the wounding of three marine officers and the carrying away of some ammunition.
From presentations by SDOs and bosses of security forces coupled with enriching debates, recommendations revolved on stringent measures to ensure harmony, serenity and security before, during and after the end of year festivities and charting the way forward for hitch-free elections come 2012. The Governor announced that Mundemba in Ndian Division will host the next CCO meeting.
