National Assembly: Greedy MPs Extend Mandate by 3 Months

It is no more news that the Cameroon National Assembly is made a breed of politicians who see nothing good in anything except in the form of bread. Last year, the mandate of MPs was extended by six months, yesterday December 7, 2012; their mandate was again extended by three months. What is however very interesting is that even the so-called opposition was silent over the issue of the extension of mandate. Along the corridors, they were all seen with smiles on their faces because they have been given another opportunity to chop state money. Public opinion holds that being a Member of Parliament in Cameroon is about bread and butter.

Cavaye Yeguie Djibrille Played the Ostrich  

There is a common saying that when you try to deny people something, you activate a very bad part of human nature. The Eye gathered that when debates opened at the National Assembly of Cameroon on, December 7, 2012, around 4.45 PM, on the Bill extending the mandate of Members of Parliament for three more months, Hon Ayah Paul Abine raised his name tag among other Members of Parliament, indicating that he would take part in the debates. From recurrent malicious antecedents, Ayah even called out for his name to be taken down but he was ignored by the Speaker because Cavaye Yeguie knew that he could raise an objection.
According to eyewitness account, other MPs who had indicated to speak were called up except Ayah. The latter we are aware raised a point of order that, by the Standing Orders of the House, he had to be recognized to address the House. The Speaker was quick to claim on behalf of the secretary that the secretary had not seen Ayah’s hand. A sizable number of Members of Parliament booed him as that was the third time during different sessions that the Speaker had prevented Ayah from addressing the House, claiming on almost every such occasion that the secretary had not seen Ayah’s hand. It would be noted that Ayah’s seat is less than ten metres from the Speaker (and the secretary) by crow’s flight.
Ayah now requested that, whatever the case, as he was already at the rostrum, he should be recognized for him to address the House. That was spontaneously approved by parliamentarians across the board. Referring to Ayah pejoratively as “ce monsieur” in the like of every primitive and uncouth person, the Speaker ordered Ayah to return to his seat amid cat calls. He went ahead to recognize the Vice Prime Minister who took over the microphone from Ayah.
What was all the more curious was that Mr. Speaker went out of all civility; out of all civilized manner; and out of all parliamentary solemnity to call Ayah, an honourable member of parliament as himself, “ce monsieur”. Every normal human being with the barest minimum scholarship who has been in parliament for over 40 years like Hon Cavaye would be expected to practise minimum etiquette consistent with parliamentary tradition. And it should make no difference that it is Hon Cavaye whose highest diploma is having been in parliament for forty years. The exception compelling accommodation, though, is that a domesticated beast does some day give in to its bestial instincts and bites a person.
Any better truth than that if at forty one is still a fool, and then one is a certificated fool till doomsday? Many have also looked at the decision by Cavaye as a gross marginalization of Anglophones. Some have even quoted the case of Adama Modi who even though a thorn in the side of the CPDM was always given room to address the House but since Ayah Paul is an Anglophone, he should be ridiculed.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. Minute by Minute Report on Cameroon and Africa

Biometric Registration: Fuh Calistus Sets Confusion at Ndu CPDM Evaluation Meeting

It is no more a secret that the Secretary of State for Mines, Industries and Technological Development, Dr. Fuh Calistus has found himself on the receiving end of criticisms he deserves; not for the least for his public comments as head of the Central Committee delegation to Donga Mantung Division on biometric registration but because he has been caught by the hawks of politics. It is really amazing that Dr. Fuh Calistus on December 7, 2012 while in meeting with CPDM militants of Ndu to assess the level of registration using the biometric system, he ignited the long forgotten incident that took place in the area some 20 years ago. Even though it is clear that some CPDM old guards have been using the so-called "Ndu genocide" to remain in power, CPDM militants who attended the Ndu were shocked at the manner at which issues unfolded. When some militants identified the incident as one of the handicaps that is contributing to voters pathy, Dr. Calistus neither accepted for  a commission to be put in place to reconcile families that were victimized but on the contrary  Dr. Fuh Calistus left CPDM militants in a more confused state. More often, CPDM militants in Ndu we gathered are being deliberately tricked, by people who have something to gain by manipulating them with misleading appearances.

Ndzi Romeo, a young militant of the CPDM has described the actions of the head of the Central Committee to Donga Mantung Division as reckless and undiplomatic while another young militant by name John Konfor Lany said the act as an obnoxious plan to further destabilize the CPDM in Ndu. Lany told this reporter on phone that the Secretary of State has portrayed that he has a hidden agenda which is to destabilize the CPDM in Ndu because not long he added “ a young man came from Yaounde and told us that he was the Secretary of State’s candidate for Parliamentary elections and we were wondering whether our leaders are being appointed from Yaounde by the so-called leader of Donga Mantung Divisio”.  Both gentlemen are upset that the head of the Central Committee is playing all sorts of tricks to remain the only “cock in Donga Mantung Division”.  

However, in fairness to Dr. Fuh Calistus, it is now appearing that aside the obvious faux pas to bring back to the memories the incident of June 1992, he has been scheming for long.  

It is now clear that Fuh Calistus’s leanings and position as lone cabinet minister from Donga Mantung have made him to misquote the Ndu Section of the CPDM thus helping to fuel the almost forgotten incident.

It should be recalled that the unfortunate incident took place in June 1992, an unfortunate incident that many have described as a “genocide” having escalidated from a political stalemate of the early day’s multi-partism in Cameroon. Ndu had a fair-share of the political upheavals that on June 7, men and women were arrested, tortured and humiliated by law enforcement officers. They were taken to the Brigade where they were “raped” with gun butts and boiled pepper infused into their vaginas! Of course, the story is long, and Mary Bienna and Irene Njeshu died later from complicated ailments! The raid was wild, as women were rounded up and taken to  “Nsankfu”, at Njiningo quarters, where a secondary school had been operating, and students were writing the GCE! The unfortunate men who were also arrested were asked to undress, and watch their sisters and mothers naked themselves. Those who were arrested were asked to crawl through the main street of Ndu, singing “Gendarme na God”, “ SDF na Satan” etc. It is this incident that Fuh Calistus decided to discuss in a meeting recently but was unable to find a solution leaving CPDM supporters confused.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. Minute by Minute Report on Cameroon and Africa

Nollywood Veteran Actor Enebeli Elebuwa is Dead

The actor, who is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) died Tuesday night at an Indian hospital after battling with partial stroke for more than a year.
The actor Enebeli Elebuwa was flown to an unnamed Indian hospital for proper medical attention after attempts to treat him at the St. Luke’s hospital, Sabo, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria failed.
Early this year, controversial Nigerian man of God, Apostle Sign Fireman posted a video on video sharing site, YouTube claiming to have healed the veteran actor of his partial stroke.
The video showed Enebeli struggling to walk during the healing service done for him. The pastor thereafter claimed that in a matter of days, Enebeli would be able to walk well.
The actor, soon after, denied the healing and was subsequently flown out of Nigeria after his condition worsened.
While on admission in India, members of his Ndokwa community of Delta State based in India visited to lend him support and wish him speedy recovery.
Enebeli Elebuwa was a native of Upkane in Otagunu local government area of Delta State.
His dad died when he was 10 years old, forcing him to leave his home town when he was only 12 years to stay with someone in Lagos.
Pa Enebeli, as he was affectionately called, was a retired civil servant and an actor who had over three decades of acting experience. Enebeli’s first ever acting role was in the soap Mirror In The Sun.
He appeared in the first three pilot episodes of that series and eventually worked as an assistant producer and director. He has since been part of many productions including Heaven’s Gate produced by another veteran actor Zik Okafor.
Enebeli’s first movie was a film (celluloid) called Dinner with the Devil, produced by Sanya Dosumu in 1974 where he played the role of a police officer investigating a crime.
He also featured in other major films including Bisi Daughter of the River by Jab Adu and Eddie Ugboma’s Oyenusi. He also acted in the now rested popular television drama, The Village Headmaster.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. Minute by Minute Report on Cameroon and Africa

Bamenda Journalist Arrested and Detained for Defamation

Kah Aaron, editor of Kilum 24, was picked up today December 7, 2012 at about 10 am by elements of the Judicial Police in Bamenda for publishing two articles which the Health Board of the Cameroon Baptist Church say the articles are defamatory. The two articles denouncing some practices by the CBC health board were published in issues No 001 and 002 of K24. The most pathetic thing is that it is common in Cameroon that journalists are picked up and detained for defamation and some are even refused bail.

However, the incident is happening when experts and journalists are reflecting on the decriminalization of defamation in Cameroon’s communication landscape in a forum holding in Yaounde-Cameroon. Journalists attending the National Communication Forum in Yaounde, we gathered, were taken aback by the arrest of Kah Aaron. Notwithstanding, at the time we were leaving the Judicial Police Station, Kah Aaron could not be granted bail given that the instructions for his arrest were linked to the State Counsel for Mezam. Luckily enough, the Commissioner for the Bamenda Judicial Police, when informed that a journalist was arrested and locked up in the cell, suddenly showed a human face by instructing his boys to keep him but not in the cell. Latest information indicates that some journalists attending the National Communication Forum are threatening to go down to the streets if the editor is not released. Some of the journalists, we learnt, are questioning why he could only be arrested only on Friday. This, they said, is usually the trick people use to ridicule journalists given that someone who is arrested on Friday could only be released on Monday, since Saturday is a non working day.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. Minute by Minute Report on Cameroon and Africa

THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY IN A STALEMATE

BY AYAH Paul ABINE
It has often been said that Camerounese conduct themselves as if they are strangers on their own land. And verily, persons in authority in the fatherland are prone to haphazard conduct of official business. No
presiding judge am I any more to draw clear-cut conclusions, nay pass sharp judgments. But I would be doing my country a disservice by precluding myself from disinterested appreciation.
It is indisputable that Section 15(4) of the Constitution provides for the extension of the mandate of parliament in the event of “serious crisis”. It is a matter of interpretation whether in the face of the
phraseology “expiry of the extension or abridgement period” it is constitutional to have multiple extensions or abridgements, given that the term “period” is in the singular.
Whichever interpretation may be exclusively accurate, efficiency requires that the government ought to have examined the situation with zeal and prudence, and then go for a single extension in order to minimize human and material costs. Preferring the contrary can only be consistent with the ruling party’s selfish monopoly of the political agenda with consequential fraud on the people.
Again, the President of the Republic by a decree extended by twelve months the mandate of municipal councils elected with parliament on the same day. Rational conduct would have required that there be twin
election similarly on the expiry of the two mandates. Rational in the sense that twin election would cut down cost comprehensively. Why would any reasonable person extend one mandate by “six months
renewable” in respect of the one case, and another by twelve months concerning the other?
Another burning issue is the interpretation of the legal phrase “six months renewable”. One daresay that a good many a jurist would agree that the interpretation of the phrase must be within the ambit of the maxim “nossitur a soci”. In other words, the entire phrase must be taken together. That should mean that it is the period of six months which is renewable to the exclusion of any other period. Tabling a Bill for a period of three months as the government has done, therefore, is offensive to the law.
Taking advantage of all the legal jumble, parliamentarians are now demanding “vehicle maintenance allowance” on the ground that they are in a new mandate. Going by what is cooking, they will either make the
enactment of the finance law conditional on the government granting their demand, or they will reject the Bill on the extension of their mandate. That will of course rubbish all that ELECAM is telling Camerounese today about the next elections.



When News Breaks Out, We Break In. Minute by Minute Report on Cameroon and Africa

The Cameroon 2013 Budget Could Incite Uprising

By Akoson Raymond, PAP Parliamentary Aspirant, Mamfe Central/Upper Bayang

* The SG at the presidency's DAILY fuel allowance stands at some 2.5 million frs (Approx. the cost to fuel a Boeing 747 plane to fly Douala to Yaounde and back);
* Something called 'Depenses Communes' (whatever that means), which is at the mercy of someone, was allocated some 198 billions for 2013. That is, if money for the subvention of political parties and the 2013 elections as prescribed for by Law No. 2012/001 of April 19, 2012 were deducted, that someone would have about 480 million EVERY DAY to play about with at their whims!
* External Relations Ministry has been allocated some 2.4 billion (two-thousand million plus) EVERY MONTH for the purchase of office equipment, official feasts & entertainment allowances;
* If we cut back on our outlandish expenses, we would have enough to employ thousands of youths with a salary of 100.000 frs each in the next ten years.
The figures above are most often than not the same for every other 72 ministries or departments ranking as such plus institutions such as the Supreme Court, Public Security, Econpmic and Social Council etc. It is a mockery to the youths that while outside the so-called 25.000 job placements, just 4.000 are with salaries! It is even the more hurting that a huge percentage of our roads are untarred, yet, this administration continue in their stubborn refusal to equitably distribute the national pie but are busy diverting monies from such wastes to private bank accounts abroad!
In fact, I feel an iressistible urge to equally mention that:
* A Combination of PM's provisions, fuel, entertainment & mission allowances is some 8.8 million EVERY DAY. And note that every other ministry spends billions of hard earned tax payers' monies on entertainment and so called allowances;
* PM's purchase of office materials & vehicles stands at some (3.8 billions yearly), that is 318 million EVERY MONTH. If you go through the budget of the other ministries, you'll notice that, just like the PM, every other ministry change their office furniture and other equipment every year. That is to say that, in Cameroon, all office furniture become unfit for use after every year!
* The Economic & Social Council, an institution we don't even know where their office is. Neither have we ever heard of a meeting they ever held lavish some 5 million EVERY DAY as running provisions;
The aforementioned analysis of the 2013 Finance Law is a product of Cameroon's parliament, which, as has been previously echoed by many, needs a complete rebirth! The Biya gerontocracy teleguides an overwhelming CPDM parliament to do his bidding. A gerontocracy that is increasingly looking like the pre-Gorbatchev Soviet Union whose entire leadership was made up of the infirm, senile and “walking dead” of the Politburo. No right thinking executive can ever come up with such a waste scheme called a bill.
Question: Why with so much waste, Cameroon still parades the international community begging for loans? Loans which shall be repaid not by this gerontocracy but by the youths tomorrow at exhobitant interest rates.

Youths, septuagenarians and octogenarians still occupy key positions at all levels of the executive, public service, public corporations, the police and armed forces, effectively preventing the much needed and long overdue renewal of state institutions. In the process, an entire generation of young Cameroonians -- you and me -- has been permanently sidelined. We are now left with the options of taking control of our councils and parliament.
I can only reiterate that the Cameroonian youths must wake up from slumber and join some of us to go to parliament and bring sanity to the way parliamentary business is been conducted. Even if at parliament, it would entail the rolling up of sleeves and exchange a few punches, disconnect the mics and bring nonsesical deliberations to a halt, then 'make yi be'!
PS: For those who want copies of the 2013 Finance Law, please go to the NA. See the attached books you'll want me to scan copies and send.


When News Breaks Out, We Break In. Minute by Minute Report on Cameroon and Africa

CONAC Report, And the Negative Game of Regional Balance

Cameroun is such a huge contradiction. Even its map overturned looks like a question mark with Lake Tchad as the dot. Or is it like the African continent? And truly nothing there is that grows on the African continent that does not grow in Cameroun: a country most richly endowed with natural resources that tantalize a people immersed in crude all-engulfing abject poverty. And while equitable distribution of those resources is a notion outlandish, it is supplanted by the equitable fishing out of scapegoats in the name of regional balance – a dry humour euphemism!

One of the most recent victims of regional balance is Professor Ngolle Ngolle Elvis. By Cameroun’s standards, if a person who has held a ministerial position for over five has a shortage of as little as 1.5 million francs, that person should be hailed. Why should it be different with Professor Ngolle? The answer can only be found in the distorted policy of regional balance. Otherwise can one not explain that someone suspected of having embezzled 100 billion of “state funds” comes clean of mere investigation while papers upon papers make an alleged embezzlement of 1.5 million their lead story!

No-one is saying that embezzlement of smaller sums of money does not amount to criminal liability. But the fuss made against Professor Ngolle Ngolle Elvis finds no justification amid the mighty chunks safely chopped off by human sharks. It is perhaps only consistent with the notorious policy of presidential reward for those who render undue service to Mr. President.

We do remember that Mr. Forjindam was the first person that called for the amendment of the constitution to enable Mr. Biya to stand election indefinitely. His reward is life in prison. Mrs. Haman Adama was the only person (out of five) allowed to nominate Mr. Biya as the only candidate at the CPDM Congress of 2006. Her reward is indefinite remand in prison custody. Mr. Marafa Yaya admittedly made Mr. Biya the invincible King Kong of electoral contests in Cameroun. King Kong has now barricaded him inside a prison closet to languish for 25 years… A wonderful lesson for my brother and friend poor Profesor Ngolle Ngolle Elvis!

Regional balance indeed! How else can one explain it? Hon Fonso received allowances as a member of the Inter-ministerial Commission. He took part neither in determining the amount nor in the calculation of the sums due. Yet has his name been published for 750.000 francs said to be unduly received. So starkly ridiculous! Each parliamentarian for instance receives 75.000 francs for fuel allowance each session. Is any of them expected to fine out whether that is covered by the law, and if so what the correct amount is? Really leaving thee substance and chasing the shadow!

Long live the all-pervading negative game of regional balance!

AYAH Paul ABINE

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. Minute by Minute Report on Cameroon and Africa

Drogba, Eto’o, Pienaar, Heads of States, CAF, Others Unite Against Malaria

Coutersy IFEJ News

Drogba, Eto’o, and Pienaar Join Heads of State, CAF and Football Players Across Africa
to Unite Against Malaria in a New Health Campaign for the 2013 Orange Africa Cup of Nations
Campaign Will Deliver Malaria Prevention and Treatment Messages Across the Continent

Johannesburg, South Africa, 30 November, 2012 – African football stars and heads of state will join the Roll Back Malaria Partnership’s United Against Malaria (UAM) campaign and pledge to distribute
life-saving malaria prevention and treatment messages throughout the 2013 Orange Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament.  Football icons including Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto’o, and Steven Pienaar, along with African Heads of State including President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia, President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania, President Blaise Compaoré of Burkina Faso, President Alassane Ouattara of Cote d’Ivoire and President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, will lend their voices to the cause, appearing in television spots, billboards and educational materials that will be distributed across Africa. Those Heads of State are members of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance.
“We are thrilled to have malaria featured as a social cause of the 2013 Orange AFCON tournament,” said Hervé Verhoosel, Head of External Relations for the Roll Back Malaria Partnership, at the press
conference in Johannesburg. “The strong partnership between United Against Malaria and the confederation of African Football (CAF) allows us to leverage the powerful platform of football to reach millions of  fans across Africa – where approximately 90% of global malaria deaths occur – with life-saving messages to help protect communities from this preventable and treatable disease.  The upcoming AFCON will build on the strong commitment and momentum of national federations and
their players from the 2010 FIFA World Cup and move us closer to making malaria a problem of the past. It is also a pleasure for us to have the presence and support of Mr. Kirsten Nematandani, President of
the South African Football Association, who is representing here today the 20 football federations supporting the campaign.”
“We, the South African Football Association, are proud to support the United Against Malaria Campaign and globally the Roll Back Malaria Partnership in order to save lives across the continent,” said Mr.
Kirsten Nematandani, President of the South African Football Association. “UAM is a great example of how football can help raise awareness to combat this killer disease.”
“Across the continent, football dominates the hearts and minds of children and parents alike. But, so does malaria – the cause of 174 million illnesses and nearly 600,000 deaths in African alone every
year,” said Samuel Eto’o, Cameroonian national team player and UAM champion. “We have united to utilize the power of football to fight malaria and we hope our fans will join us.”
Although preventable and treatable, malaria kills a child in Africa every 60 seconds and costs the continent an estimated minimum of US $12 billion in lost productivity and healthcare costs each year.
"I have been a victim of malaria and have witnessed first-hand the devastating effects it can have on individuals and families," said Didier Drogba, Cote d'Ivoire national team captain and UAM champion.
"We need malaria out of the game. Using the popularity of football to increase awareness of prevention and treatment methods will go a long way in the fight to show malaria the red card.”
"Malaria affects nearly everyone on the continent of Africa, including footballers and government leaders. With all eyes on the tournament and its participants, CAF and UAM are committed to utilizing this platform to communicate important messaging to end deaths from this devastating disease," said Mr. Hicham El Amrani, Secretary-General of CAF.
"When we all fight malaria together, we build stronger nations and save lives," said President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia. "As a football fan myself, I understand the game's power and popularity. We
have the tools to win against malaria and I urge others to join us in the fight."
In Nigeria, Malawi, Benin, Ghana, Uganda, Tanzania and other countries, malaria messages will be shared using football players, favorite teams and sports programs. Research has shown that audiences
retain and act on these messages more often when delivered by their football heroes. In those countries, billboards, sports journals, tournament programs will complement the PSAs on air to ensure the UAM campaign messages reach every household. In Cote d'Ivoire, images of Drogba and his teammates Kolo Toure, Gervinho and Salomon Kalou attract readers to malaria educational materials, and create excitement about ridding this West African country of the burden of malaria. The UAM campaign has broken language barriers by having PSAs recorded by football stars in over 18 African languages since the campaign was launched in 2009.
"I am honored to be a champion for this cause," said Steven Pienaar, UAM champion and former South African captain. "It is unacceptable that malaria kills one child in Africa every minute. We can take such
simple steps to prevent and treat this disease. United we can beat malaria."

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. Minute by Minute Report on Cameroon and Africa

Food, Water and Livelihoods in Pacific Islands underThreat

Invasive Species, Waste, and Extreme Weather Events among Key Challenges

Doha (Qatar), 30 November 2012 – Island communities in the Pacific Ocean are facing unprecedented challenges to their economies and environment from the impacts of climate change, according to a new report released at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Doha, Qatar.

Sea level rise, tropical cyclones, floods and drought, combined with pressures from unsustainable fishing practices and coastal development, and consumption and production trends, are rendering the livelihoods of some 10 million people increasingly vulnerable, says the study.

Low-lying islands in particular could face projected losses of up to 18 per cent of GDP due to climate change.

The report recommends actions to enforce legislation, improve the availability of environmental data, and strengthen environmental institutions to help meet the major climate change challenges facing the Pacific region.

The study highlights successful efforts to create community-managed conservation areas, such as marine parks, which have used indigenous knowledge to improve recycling, energy efficiency and sustainable water use. Such techniques can be scaled up, and serve as a model for other regions, says the report.

Due to low greenhouse gas emissions and the sustainable management of the region’s forests – often by local communities – some Pacific islands could see net uptakes of CO₂ from the atmosphere in the future.

The Pacific Environment and Climate Change Outlook was prepared by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) in partnership with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and other organizations.

Covering 21 countries and territories, mostly small, low-lying island communities, the report provides a detailed assessment of the state of the Pacific environment, and lays out policy options for improving sustainable development in island communities. The experiences of over 500 communities are included in the study.

“This report presents concrete evidence that food, freshwater and the livelihoods of Pacific islanders are under threat, and that the Pacific is at the forefront in humanity’s efforts to combat and adapt to climate change, “said UN Under-Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner.

“Enhancing local capacity to directly monitor, and manage, the impacts of the region’s changing environment is essential for reducing climate risks, but also for unlocking the potential economic benefits that a transition to an inclusive, low-carbon and resource efficient green economy can bring,” said Mr. Steiner.

State of the Environment and Regional Trends

The report highlights a severe shortage of data relating to environmental change in Pacific islands. Nevertheless, several key environmental trends are emerging across the region:

Land
·        Housing, food and other needs of growing population are placing limited land resources (land mass accounts for only 2 per cent of Pacific region) under intense pressure
·        Severe loss of mangrove forests, but region saw a net gain in forest cover between 2000 and 2009
·        Organic and chemical waste (eg. from mining) has become a major problem for both land and sea

Biodiversity
·        80 per cent of alien species in the Pacific are invasive or potentially invasive
·        60 per cent of reptiles, 21 per cent of mammal species, and 13 per cent of birds assessed in report are considered threatened (based on IUCN Red List)

Freshwater
·        Availability of freshwater varies highly, but demand is rising across the region
·        Leakage in water systems affects up to 50 per cent of water supply
·        Water conservation practices (eg. rainwater collection) have not been taken up widely

Fisheries
·        Main commercially exploited species are reaching limits of sustainable harvest
·        Catch of four main tuna species increased tenfold between 1960 and 2009
·        Use of Locally Managed Marine Areas now involves over 500 communities and is being extended to terrestrial areas

Coral Reefs and Marine Environment
·        Climate change and ocean acidification contributing to degradation of coral reefs
·        Important economic impacts as reefs provide major source of revenue from tourism and fisheries
·        Plastics (including marine litter) are a priority pollution threat

Drivers

The Pacific Environment and Climate Change Outlook stresses that efforts to build climate resilience need to go hand-in-hand with actions to tackle other causes of environmental degradation.  

Policy responses should seek to address such ‘drivers’ of environmental change, and not simply react to their effects.

Among the main drivers for the Pacific region listed in the report are:

Population growth: The population of the Pacific region grew at an annual rate of over 3 per cent between 1990 and 2011, with many urban areas growing at twice the national rate.

Exploitation of natural resources: Increased interest in mining activities could lead to more frequent disputes on land use, as well as the shift from subsistence farming towards cash crops such as palm oil
 
Climate Variability: Extreme weather events, coupled with low land elevation and concentrated coastal populations, mean communities in Pacific islands are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, with lower capacity for emergency response

Recommendations

From efforts to improve waste management, to community participation in conserving marine areas, the report highlights many actions already underway in Pacific Island communities to tackle environmental degradation.

However, the current scale of action is insufficient to meet the growing challenges posed by climate change. This is primarily due to a lack of funds, skills, and important environmental data.

The report lays out a number of recommendations to improve the climate resilience of Pacific countries and territories, including:

·        Need to implement and deliver commitments made under multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs), plans and strategies. Many countries have endorsed, but not yet implemented, agreements covering hazardous wastes, pollution, invasive species, and many other areas
·        Successful implementation will require extensive engagement with, and involvement, of local communities
·        Improved sharing and transfer of knowledge and skills is needed to improve research and data collection on the environment of Pacific islands
·        More awareness-raising activities to improve public knowledge of environment

Notes to Editors

The report covers the Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs) of:
American Samoa, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Wallis and Futuna.

A full copy of the report, the Pacific Environment and Climate Change Outlook, is available at: http://www.unep.org/pdf/PEECO.pdf

For more information, please contact:

Bryan Coll, UNEP Newsdesk (Nairobi) on +254 20 7623088 / +254 731666214, E-mail: unepnewsdesk@unep.org

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. Minute by Minute Report on Cameroon and Africa

2011 CONAC Report: The Shocking Revelations on Misappropriation of State Funds, Money Laundering, 419 Scams

Billions Diverted at Kribi Deep Sea Port & Lom-Pangar

Network on Money Laundering Uncovered

40 Cases Deposited for Judiciary Action

The Anti-corruption Commission-CONAC has published a 300 pages document exposing the channels of misappropriation of public funds in Cameroon. The report which was presented to the general public by its President Dieudonee Massagam indicates that corruption in the country has reached it peak. The report was presented in four parts highlighted the strategies adopted in 2011 by the commission to check on corrupt practices.  According to the report, CONAC investigation focused mainly on four major axes, which are mining, forestry, social sector, electronic governance and public contracts. In the domain of controls, systematic controls were carried out on the execution of the Public Investment Budget, forestry and wildlife as well as the implementation of HIPC Projects in communities. CONAC control mission also visited the Kribi Deep Seaport and the construction of the Lom-Pangar dam. The third part was devoted on the prevention and punishment of corrupt practices. And the fourth part on cooperation in the fight against corruption.

2 Billion Embezzled at Lom-Pangar

Regarding the Lom-Pangar project, CONAC audit found many irregularities in procurement procedures from preliminary studies to the level of monitoring and the implementation. Cases of misappropriation of public funds estimated at billions of CFA francs involving Cameroonian officials in conveyance with officials of the bidding company contractors were also uncovered. According to the report, this project became the subject of appetites transgressors who found a boon to enrich themselves at the expense of the state and taxpayers. The payments made mistakenly to the detriment of the State or subject to corruption charges on public finances were estimated at FCFA 2,054,717,180 (two billion fifty-four million seven hundred and seventeen thousand one hundred and eighty francs).

Kribi Deep Seaport: White Collar Gangster Unmasked

The results of investigations on the project on monitoring and verification of transactions related to the expropriation and / or destruction of property as well as the compensation of victims have resulted in the discovery of numerous irregularities, abuses and financial favours. It is interesting to note that 58 of 809 beneficiaries’ compensated in each case were receive a payments ranging from 100 million and more than two billion CFA francs per person. The report of the Conac unmasked through a careful analysis of the conditions for the establishment and obtaining land titles in the area helped to understand that 65% of so-called land owners are not titled. In fact they are “delinquent white collar gangsters. A total of 149 land titles were compensated to the tune of FCFA 10,774,638,375, while people in the frantic search for property  were also identified among the owners whose lands are being registered were paid FCFA 8,383,688,000 (eight billion three hundred eighty-three million six hundred thousand). In addition, the report cites eleven categories of the biggest scams were fraudulently paid huge sums ranging from 500 million to more than 2 billion FCFA each. As a result out of the 149 land titles on the basis of which the compensation was calculated, 44 land titles were established after 6 February 2009, date of Order No. 156/Mindaf declaring the construction of port of Kribi. Compared to the overall total payment of 10,774,638,375 FCFA made as compensation to holders of land titles, those whose documents showed a date later than February 06, 2009 received 4,821,356,625 FCFA 44.7% in total.

40 Court cases/Money Laundering

CONAC report also reveled that in 2011, 40 cases were sent to court. The 40 cases were sent to court are estimated FCFA 10,518,533,171 (ten billion five hundred and eighteen million five hundred thirty three thousand one hundred seventy-one).

The report shows how public and private banks have been transformed to instruments of corruption, money laundering and terrorist financing. It also revealed how Managers of state corporations and bank managers are involved in dubious business. They are related to foreign trade transactions, foreign exchange transactions and questionable lending. Regarding the payment by check and bank transfer for the Treasury, the report shows that large sums of money from the state, representing the amount of tax charges are pending in 10 banks. The total amount of money as at 31 December 2010 amounted to FCFA 3,884,727,668 (three billion, eight hundred and eighty-four million seven hundred twenty seven thousand six hundred sixty eight francs). The CONAC instructed the Ministry of Finance to recover this money as a matter of urgency. The report also emphasizes on the fact that various techniques are used by government officials to carryout money laundering in the country. The report various techniques highlighted in the report which are commonly used include: false contracts between mother companies and their subsidiaries in transnational mafia network, the loan disguised and altered value (use of nominees) and the use of shell companies and nominees in the procurement is very rampant. This method of laundering of public funds is common. In general, the report says, the officer splits upstream markets and the provider or supplier overcharged downstream to generate a profit. The scam on the Internet "scamming or fraud 419" is also part of these techniques mafia.



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