The concerns were raised with Prime Minister Philemon Yang in Parliament last Friday.
The Prime Minister, Head of Government, Philemon Yang was April 5, 2013 in the National Assembly to answer questions of great concern to Members of Parliament, MPs. Prior to the question and answer sitting for the March session of Parliament, the Senior Vice President of the House, chair of the day, Hilarion Etong, recognised the presence of the Head of Government and some cabinet ministers.
Infrastructural Development Projects
The first preoccupation came from Ocean Division in the South Region MP, Martin Oyono who sought to know why after the December 9, 2011 reform reorganising government and creating the Ministry of Public Contracts, infrastructural projects remain under the management of the Prime Ministry. He also wanted to know when payment of compensation owed victims of the Kribi Deep Seaport will be re-launched. He lamented the fact that MPs are underrepresented in the setting up of committees for infrastructural projects. He expressed fear that the Douala-Yaounde Dual Carriage Road and the Wouri Bridge might face the same scenario as Lom Pangar, Mekin, Kribi Deep Seaport and Mbalam Iron Ore Project. He regretted the fact that people who have been chosen to lead the compensation committee are not really payed attention.
If infrastructural projects are managed at the level of the Prime Ministry, it is because of the need to effectively implement government action, Prime Minister Philemon Yang answered. He said the Prime Minister is per the Constitution, charged with effectively putting in place, controlling, following up and coordinating government activities as defined by the Head of State. With regards to the involvement of the local elite in such projects, Prime Minister Philemon Yang said more elite will be represented. He cited the example of the Minim-Martap bauxite project in Adamawa Region where the Prime Minister’s office requested the National Assembly for the name of a local representative to be appointed. The compensation of victims of the Kribi Deep Seaport was effectively suspended, Philemon Yang said, but he announced the imminent restart of the exercise. He also revealed that three sites were identified with the help of the population and work is on course.
Financial Fund “Caisse des dépôts et de consignation”
Hon. Talla Talla Blondo of Lomie Constituency in the East Region sought to know why the “Caisse des dépôt et de consignation” has not been able to go operational in Cameroon, meanwhile the ball for its putting in place was set rolling way back. This financial instrument that could act as a veritable catalyst for infrastructural development projects, spurring economic development and taking the country to emergence by 2035, by mobilising funds is indispensable, he argued. He regretted the fact that other African countries that embraced this financial change are already benefitting from it.
To translate words into actions, the Prime Minister explained that government put in place a working group headed by the Minister of Finance to make sure that this initiative to promote business development goes operational. He revealed that the Minister of Finance, head of this committee is working to see that a bill on the matter is ready soon. Work is progressing and the Prime Minister said time will soon come for him to appoint officials to pilot this remarkable development-oriented initiative.
Bilingualism
Hon. Cyprian Awudu Mbaya of the Nkambe Constituency in the North West Region was of the opinion that the country’s Constitution is being violated when it comes to the respect and implementation of its two official languages; English and French. He wanted to find out measures put in place by government to make sure that both languages are fully used as the country’s working tools. He also wanted to know if the Head of Government was aware that such Constitutional provision was being violated.
In response, Prime Minister Philemon Yang said the issue touches on the very foundation of the Cameroonian identity which can be summarised in the question, “What does it mean to be a Cameroonian in the 21st century?” He said bilingualism is not a constraint but a priceless asset and a rich mine of opportunity which is the envy of other countries. To ensure that the recommendations of the Constitution are respected, government has been acting on two levers like making bilingualism take roots in the social corps by putting in place practical tools for its spread.
On the specific case of the Public Service, the Prime Minister said bilingualism was an obligation from which none can escape. He went further to enumerate a plethora of measures taken by government to this effect like the creation of linguistic centres, a translation school, the putting in place of translation units in all ministries, the institution of the a bilingualism day and above all, the publication of official documents in the Official Gazette in English and French.
Another concern was on the efficiency of the performance-based State budget which was forwarded to government by Hon. Esther Ngalla of the Ndu Constituency of the North West before it was voted.
