Nkendem Forbinake
26 February 2008
In a prompt outing on radio and television yesterday evening, three members of government came out to assess the situation and make a case for peace.
The Minister of Communication Jean Pierre Biyiti bi Essam specifically assured the people of Douala that government was doing everything to maintain the peace in the nation's economic capital. Below are pertinent excerpts of the reactions made by the Ministers of Trade, Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana; Transport, Gounoko Haounaye and Communication, Jean Pierre Biyiti bi Essam at last evening's press briefing.
On the situation as at last evening (Minister Biyiti bi Essam)
In the morning (of yesterday) several youths took to the streets, perpetrating numerous acts of vandalism. They notably destroyed the Douala V Council premises, the Divisional office of Douala V, as well as several shops and other public buildings such as the revenue (taxation) office. The balance-sheet is high in terms of human lives and material damages. At the time of this statement, we have registered three deaths which are still to be really identified. The trouble has been circumscribed essentially in Douala V, Douala IV, Douala III and parts of Douala I. Before this unexpected actions, there had been a notification of strike by a number of transportations syndicates; but there had been negotiation between the public authorities and the syndicates. And everything seemed to be going an well
On the fact that the situation came as a result of the increase in fuel prices (Minister Mbarga Atangana)
Effectively, this seems to be the case. But just two weeks ago the various transportation syndicates and the government came together to discuss and come to an understanding over some six grievances ranging from over zealousness of the Yaounde municipal authorities, the price of fuel, the training of taxi drivers, road security, to the new civil procedure code. We held a number of meetings with representatives of the various transport syndicates. On February 20, 2008, the Prime Minister instructed us to continue these discussion. On February 21, 2008, we held a marathon meeting in Yaounde into those syndicates ending up with a communiqué duly signed by the syndicates on a majority of the points raised by the syndicates. So we were very surprised that last Saturday, February 23, 2008; just two days after our meeting, the syndicates broke our bond of understanding. Disagreement was only on one point: the price of fuel. Here, we agreed that there was a communication deficit Because, at the end of the day, it was clear that the State of Cameroon is making huge sacrifices to keep fuel prices at current levels.
On the fact that there are too many taxes of fuel products (Minister Mbarga Atangana)
I do not think the syndicates feel that there are too many taxes. Cameroon buys its fuel from the international market because our refinery in Limbe cannot refine our fuel because it is too heavy. In April 2007, a barred sold for 67 US Dollars Today, the price is about 101 US Dollars. Government blocked prices since then, i.e., for the past eight months. If you take into account all allied cost, a litre of fuel in Cameroon today should cost over CFA 700. When in Cameroon, you buy a litre of fuel at the station for CFA 600, you must understand that the government is paying for CFA 100.
A 12 kg bottle of gas, at normal market rates, cost CFA 10.346. The same bottle sells ordinarily at CFA 6.000. That means the government is making for the extra CFA 4.346. The syndicates applauded us for these sacrifices during our meetings.
On whether he was surprised by the strike and his personal diagnosis (Minister Gounoko Haounaye)
Yes, I am surprised. When I became Minister of Transport in September 2007, one of the first texts I met on my table was a strike notification by some transport syndicates. I instructed my services to follow-up the file. We held several meeting. The latest threat came, this time, from the urban and inter-urban transport syndicate. We went into immediate negotiation with them.
The diagnosis I can make of the present situation (as former Governor of the Littoral province) is simply that the cost of living in Douala is very high. It is about twice the cost of living in Yaounde. Transporters, the people behind the present trouble in Douala, are of the lower income rungs. They feel poverty much more than any other group in Douala. I think this factor greatly encouraged the situation in Douala.
On what government intends to do in Douala now (Minister Biyiti bi Essam)
There is absolutely no link between the demands of transporters and what happened in Douala (yesterday). We are, first of all, sending a message of compassion to all affected people. I mean the several families which received visits of vandals. I am really obliged to believe there has been manipulation some where. Government is asking the people of Douala to cooperate with the forces of law and order. And I think, such initiatives will pay off. In the Marché Congo (yesterday) traders beat off and chased away attackers. I want to assure the people of Douala that the rule of law will prevail.
On the relation of the closing down of Equinoxe TV and Radio to the crisis (Minister Biyiti bi Essam)
The Cameroon Tribune edition of Monday, I provided some useful information on the situation with facsimiles of correspondence between the promoters of Equinox TV and my Ministry. You know that to operate a TV station, you must obtain a licence as well as pay a fee. The promoters did none of the above. Rather, he asked me for a moratorium of payment through a letter he wrote to me on September 3, 2007. In my reply of December 28, 2007, I refused to accord this moratorium. Since writing my letter, I have not had any word from this promoter. It has been rumoured that other stations in the same situation are operating. I would challenge anyone to provide the name of any such station.
On the CPDM Claim that perpetrators of the Douala situation are Politicians and Actors of the social Scene.. who are the real perpetrators (Minister Biyiti bi Essam)
As I said earlier, the nerve centre of trouble is in Douala V, IV, III and part of Douala I. These are areas where there is a strong presence of the SDF. Government will take its responsibilities and restore order.
On whether urban transport services will resume today (Minister Gounoko Haounaye)
I cannot tell exactly. I cannot answer this question with certitude but the government is taking all measures to ensure that order is restored.
If we find out that there are some people pulling the strings, they will surely be brought to book.
On the high cost of living: Minister Mbarga Atangana
We must recognise that at world level, there is inflation. A major objective cause of this generalised increase in prices is linked to the increase in price of fuel which engenders several other costs such as transport. Basic agricultural products which we used to use as food are now being used as biogas; thus creating a shortage of food destined for human consumption. For example, China and India have banned the exportation of rice. They now import from Thailand. We used to import rice from these two countries. We are now obliged to buy from Thailand too. There is also milk. Argentina, our main supplier, no longer exports milk. There is also wheat whose price on the word market has doubled. That obviously affects the cost of bread we eat. I can say the same thing about the much cherished mackerel or "Morocco" fish whose price on entry at the Douala post is estimated at about CFA 780/kg. The real price on our market should be between CFA 900 and CFA 1000! The world economy is going through a historical turnaround. Only those who take fresh initiatives in satisfying the growing national demand will make it in our national context.
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