My dear compatriots,
 |
| President Paul Biya addressing the Nation |
The year 2013 gave Cameroonians genuine reasons to feel satisfied, thus paving the way for excellent prospects for the future.
Let me explain.
The senatorial elections of 14 April and
the legislative and municipal elections of 30 September took place in a
calm and transparent atmosphere. All observers confirmed this fact and I
believe that it reflects the maturity of the Cameroonian people who
have understood that achieving social progress requires stable
institutions and sound policies. The few failings reported were not
enough to challenge the validity of the said elections. In this regard,
ELECAM deserves to be commended. The enhanced credibility of the
legislative and municipal elections sufficiently justified the time it
took to introduce biometrics into our electoral system.
I therefore believe that there is every
reason for us to be satisfied with this new milestone in our democratic
process. The marked increase in the number of women in Parliament and
municipal councils is a further sign of progress.
In any case, having put in place the
Senate and local and regional authorities, the establishment of the
Constitutional Council within a reasonable timeline will complete the
institutional structure enshrined in our Constitution.
Our political horizon is now very clear.
It is time for serious and objective discussions on issues that are
dear to Cameroonians which, as you know, are purchasing power,
employment and living conditions. In other words, such issues constitute
what our people legitimately expect from a prosperous and equitable
economy and a just and interdependent society.
Of course, this is no revelation to us.
In recent decades, we have spared no effort to improve the living
conditions of Cameroonians. This has been achieved despite the often
tense political context, the economic crisis and threats to peace.
Significant progress - perhaps still unevenly shared – has been made.
Let me mention just two examples, namely health and our major projects.
With the resurgence of malaria in its
most severe form which affects infants, we have approached international
partners for assistance. With their help, we will be able to secure
free treatment of this pandemic for under-five children. Furthermore, I
am pleased to announce that our country’s health map will soon have
three additional referral hospitals, namely the Yaounde National
Emergency Centre, the Douala Gynaecological, Obstetric and Paediatric
Hospital and the Sangmelima Referral Hospital.
Regarding our major projects, those of the first generation are, as you know, either ongoing or in the start-up phase.
Concerning second-generation projects
which will be implemented as from 2015, the related studies and
financing are currently under negotiation. These include notably power
generation, transportation, water supply, road and highway
infrastructure as well as industrial and mining facilities.
As you can see, our economy is picking
up and some kind of national consensus on the goal of economic emergence
is discernible. I believe that we should muster all our energy to
champion this cause and summon all our strength to ensure growth. In
fact, it seems that our efforts alone, no matter how laudable, will not
suffice to make Cameroon an emerging country in 2035.
International financial institutions
have sounded this friendly warning to us; and it is in our interest to
heed it. In 2013, our growth rate stands at 4.8%, and thus below our
forecast of 6.1%. Of course, there is nothing so dramatic about this,
yet it clearly indicates that we need to redouble our efforts.
Our growth is currently sustained by
buoyant oil revenues and public appropriations. Private investments
remain inadequate. We still need to improve the business climate, but
this certainly does not spare us from pursuing ongoing structural
reforms and further strengthening fiscal discipline.
Definitely, there is still room for
improvement in the effectiveness of our economic policies. We have a
growth and employment strategy which guides us towards achieving our
goals. But, how come then that in some sectors of our economy, State
action often seems to lack consistency and clarity? Why is it that in
many cases, decision-making delays still constitute a bottleneck in
project implementation? Why can’t any region of our country achieve a
public investment budget execution rate of over 50%? Lastly, one can
rightfully question the usefulness of certain project monitoring
committees which are unable to take any decisions.
What we need in the coming years is a real contingency plan. With the GESP, we have a trend chart. Now is the time to act.
Our short-term priorities are well
known, namely: to correct our growth curve by creating jobs and
maintain a high level of performance over several years in a row. To
this end, we need to set timelines on our roadmaps and strictly adhere
to them.
It will be absolutely imperative that we
address the causes of our weaknesses by removing sticking points,
areas of dispersion and duplication.
Would we be unable to do what some other
countries comparable to ours have done or are doing? I do not think so.
We have talented, resourceful, well-trained and enterprising men, women
and youth, who are capable of meeting these challenges. We have
abundant and diverse natural resources as well as modern and democratic
institutions. Our country is peaceful and stable. What then do we lack?
I think we need to improve in two key areas: prioritizing general interest and coordinating our efforts.
Though attached to our communities of
origin - which does not prevent us from being fervent patriots whenever
national honour is at stake - we are an individualistic people, more
concerned with personal success than general interest. Our
administration remains susceptible to private interest, which is most
often in conflict with national interest. Such trends must not be
tolerated in a modern state.
At one stage of implementation or
another, most of our major projects involve the skills of various
services. I am not sure that there has been effective coordination
between them. Clearly, therefore, there is a need for improvement in
this regard.
My dear compatriots,
I would now like to draw your attention
to a problem that has reached disturbing proportions in recent months –
that of insecurity in our country.
Not long ago, we were striving to
overcome “ordinary” insecurity. Simply put, we fought minor and
organized crime in urban areas and “highway robbers” in remote rural
areas.
For some time now, a new form of crime
referred to as cross-border crime has reached a worrying scale,
particularly in the northern and eastern parts of the country.
This has been brought about by the
presence around our borders of armed bands, driven by extremist
ideologies and lured by profit. They do not hesitate to cross over to
our territory where they commit various atrocities. This phenomenon is
not entirely new. However, it has witnessed a fresh upsurge as not long
ago there was an attack in Kette Subdivision in the eastern part of our
country. Elite units have been deployed to the area to check such
incursions.
Over the months, in the Far North, such
criminals have kidnapped foreign nationals for ransom. Memories of the
abduction of the French family MOULIN-FOURNIER are still fresh. Thanks
to our cooperation with the Nigerian authorities and French services, we
were able to secure their release. More recently, a French priest was
manhandled and taken to Nigeria. I strongly condemn such unspeakable
acts perpetrated in the quest for gain against defenceless persons,
including children.
Of course, we are doing our best to prevent and combat such acts, and we will not relent.
I congratulate the élite units ensuring
security in these areas and urge the local population to cooperate with
them as necessary.
For some time now, terrorism has also
become rife at sea. Its motivations are mainly financial, but the
methods have not changed. They consist in inspecting ships to loot the
contents and kidnapping crew members for ransom. Cameroon has witnessed
this in its maritime space.
The phenomenon has expanded to the
entire Gulf of Guinea, such that the maritime trade of countries located
in this area is being compromised. There was a first response at the
Summit on Maritime Security and Safety in the Gulf of Guinea, held in
Yaounde last 25 and 26 June.
It is clear that, whether on land or at
sea, security, which is first and foremost a national issue, also has a
collective and even international dimension. It should not be
underestimated. Where it is not guaranteed, anarchy settles in, abuses
become rife, economic and social progress grinds to a halt. Examples of
such forms of breakdown in societal values, unfortunately, abound in our
continent and even in our immediate external vicinity.
While it is true that the affected areas
of our territory are very limited, we remain on the alert. Our security
forces on the ground can intervene at any time. This is an opportunity
for me to stress that each one of us must be aware of the benefits of
living in a stable country where institutions are functioning normally,
where the security of people and property is guaranteed, and where every
citizen can nurse hopes of a better life.
The current situation in the Central
African Republic demonstrates the possible consequences of instability
and disorder. Massacre, looting and displacement have become the order
of the day in that brotherly and friendly country. It was the duty of,
and an honour for, Cameroonian troops to participate in the operations
of the multinational force aimed at restoring security and protecting
people within the territory of our immediate neighbour.
My dear compatriots,
We are somewhat at a crossroads. Growth
is within our reach; our budget is viable; our public debt is
sustainable; in short, our economic and financial situation gives us
every reason to hope for prosperity.
-It is either we take the easy road by
postponing reforms, in which case in 10 or 20 years time we shall have
had such a cumulative delay that we can hardly meet the needs of our
people.
-Or we set high goals for ourselves, and
adopt strict collective discipline, in which case we will embark
resolutely on economic emergence.
I suggest that we adopt the latter option, that of sacrifice and courage.
At a time when we are beginning to see
many concrete signs of our democratic, economic and social progress, I
invite you to embrace a new spirit of patriotism. I believe we can do a
lot better.
I am not asking for your sweat, or
blood, or tears; rather, I am merely urging you to commit yourself
wholeheartedly to this new phase of our Grand National plan.
At the dawn of this New Year, I would like, on behalf of you all, to address our Indomitable Lions.
Dear Indomitable Lions,
You have qualified for the final phase
of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. We want you to follow in the
footsteps of your illustrious predecessors of the glorious campaigns in
Spain in 1982 and Italy in 1990. Give us a thrill once again. The
Cameroonian people are with you.
To conclude, I am pleased to announce the release of Father Georges Vandenbeusch.
Thanks to the action of our services,
backed by Nigerian and French authorities, this priest, so devoted to
his mission, has been freed today.
My dear compatriots,
I would now like to extend to you all, my best wishes for good health and happiness in the New Year.
Happy and Prosperous New Year 2014!
Yaounde, 31 December 2013
When News Breaks Out, We Break In. Minute by Minute Report on Cameroon and Africa
No comments:
Post a Comment