Opening speech by Honourable KOA MFEGUE LAURENTINE, Eldest Member of the National Assembly of Cameroon

Your Excellences,

Honourable Members of the National Assembly,

Fellow Members of the National Assembly,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

               He was called TAK Bienvenu, the Nation’s representative and Member of the National Assembly of the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) and of the Lom and Djerem Constituency of the East Region of Cameroon. He died on 22 December 2022 after an illness. He was serving his second term of office in our House Chamber and was the Chairman of the Committee on Resolutions and Petitions. He was laid in his final resting place in YANDA I, his native village, on 4 February 2023.

The entire House Chamber extends, through my voice, from the people’s rostrum, to the bereaved family and his electorate, its heartfelt condolences and deepest sympathy.

Your Excellences,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

               Perhaps many of us did not know him, but I implore all who are in this plenary hall to kindly rise and observe a minute of silence in memory of our departed Member.

SILENCE

The Eldest Member of the Senate,

The Prime Minister, Head of Government,

The President of the Constitutional Council,

The first President of the Supreme Court,

The Attorney General of the Supreme Court,

The Members of Government,

Your Excellences, Ambassadors and Representatives of International Organizations,

Honorable Members of Parliament,

Fellow Parliamentarians,

Distinguished Representatives of the Civil Society,

Distinguished Guests,

Your Excellences,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

               In my capacity as eldest member of the National Assembly and Head of the Provisional Bureau, I would like to warmly welcome you to this solemn opening plenary sitting of the first Ordinary Session of the National Assembly for the 2023 Legislative Year.

                I am particularly grateful to the Almighty God for keeping me alive and affording me the opportunity to welcome you, from this rostrum, to our House Chamber for the third consecutive time during the ongoing legislative period. I do hope, in earnest, that the good Lord will keep me to discharge this task till the end of the 10th Legislature.

Your Excellences,

Honorable Members of the National Assembly,

Fellow Members of the National Assembly,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Our parliamentary session is, once more, beginning against the backdrop of numerous crisis situations. 

At the international level, climate change continues to create very disquieting problems which are compounded by unpredictable terrorist threats, the Russo-Ukrainian War with its protracted consequences to which should be added catastrophic natural disasters. The earthquakes that occurred in Turkey and Syria a few weeks ago are, without doubt, the most catastrophic natural disasters with the direst consequences as the resulting number of the dead, the homeless, internally displaced persons or refugees is in thousands.

I wish to take the cue from the President of the Republic, His Excellency Paul BIYA, and the international community, as a whole, to extend, on behalf of the people of Cameroon who we have the honor of representing in this House Chamber, the deepest sympathy of Members of the National Assembly to the brotherly and friendly peoples of Turkey and Syria. By the same token, Members of the National Assembly address their heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families while wishing a speedy recovery to all those suffering from injuries due to the earthquakes.

               At the national level, security concerns have, no doubt, been brought under control, but the populace, the army and the forces of law and order are still on the alert. In this wise, I hereby disapprove and strongly condemn terrorist attacks during the Mount Cameroon Race of Hope on 25 February 2023.

That notwithstanding, a landmark event in the political life of our country, senatorial elections, is billed for 12 March 2023. I would, therefore, like, at this juncture, to sincerely congratulate all the candidates who were nominated by their parties.  They can rest assured of my best wishes for the rest of the electoral process and I ardently hope the elections will take place in a serene atmosphere throughout the national territory.

               Still at the national level, Cameroonian women would on 8 March 2023 commemorate the 38th Edition of the International Day of the Woman. As the Eldest Member, but, above all, a woman, I would like to exhort them in the following words: Fellow ladies make yourselves beautiful and still attractive to your spouses on that day. Steer clear of excesses. Let us feast happily, with dignity and responsibly. Avoid excesses. We should see that Day as a golden opportunity to reflect on pressing issues to be addressed today and in future. I wish you a happy Women’s Day in advance.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

               On 11 February 2023, Cameroonian youths celebrated the 57th Edition of the National Youth Day. As a mother and an elected representative, I would like to salute and express my admiration for their massive mobilization and enthusiasm during the celebrations that took place in a peaceful atmosphere across the national territory. I would also like to note with satisfaction the diverse activities carried out during the youth week and which culminated in memorable celebrations on 11 February 2023.

               As is customary, the President of the Republic, Head of State, His Excellency Paul BIYA, delivered a message to the youths of our country in the evening of 10 February 2023. I hope the youths were able to understand the message of the Head of State and would put his words into practice. By your leave, I would like to draw their attention to two important issues the Head of State harped on in his message. The first has to do with deviant behavior. In his address, the Head of State averred and I quote: “I also urge you to shun deviant behaviors which are becoming rife in our society. Regrettably, such is the case in schools where incivility, consumption of narcotics, assault and many other excesses are increasingly becoming commonplace. Such behaviors should be shunned as they do not serve your best interest”. End of quote.

               The second issue the Head of State dwelt on is the abusive use of Internet platforms. In the words of the Head of State and I quote, “You should also resist the temptation to seek refuge in the virtual world through misuse of the Internet and digital platforms with the risk of losing touch with reality. Aware of these threats, I have instructed Government to draw up a charter on the protection of children on the Internet in our country”. End of quote.

               The National Assembly also played its own role in the build up to the celebration of the 57th Edition of the National Youth Day through the “Hope of Youths” parliamentary network that organized the 6th Edition of Youth Parliament on 9 February 2023 under the theme, “Youths: Civic Responsibility and Health Promotion”. Its successful organization aside, the Youth Parliament has highlighted two salient facts:

Firstly, that Government is determined to pursue and intensify the civic education of youths;

Secondly, that youths are the primary beneficiaries of the reform process in the public health sector in our country which is placed under the banner, “the time to act is now”. For example, special measures are being taken to administer treatment to youths under the Universal Health Insurance Scheme. Similarly, strategies are being fine-tuned to encourage youths to massively get involved in community health services.

               This, therefore, affords me the opportunity to extend words of encouragement to Government and to exhort the Nation’s representatives to do all in their power to lend assistance and support to these government policy options.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

               I now deem it necessary to talk about some issues that are hitting the charts in our country and that could be referred to as “scandals of the Republic”, that is if, indeed, we are not in a “Republic of scandals”. Such scandals are, but not limited to:

the scandal concerning the Project to Construct the Olembe Sports Complex;

the scandal concerning the management of COVID-19 funds;

the scandal concerning the Yaounde-Douala Motorway Construction Works and plans to indemnify the riparian population;

the scandal concerning the use of funds allocated to Budget Head No. 94 and Budget Head No. 65 of the Finance Law;

the scandal concerning the murder of His Lordship Jean Marie Benoît BALLA, the erstwhile bishop of Bafia;

the scandal concerning the murder of the reporter, Martinez ZOGO; etc.

We strongly condemn the reprehensive nature of all the above scandals. All that has to stop. Cameroon, our beloved and beautiful country, must not be turned into a land of scandals. That is why I wish to remind those who are stewards of public affairs to be beacons of patriotism and moral probity.

They should know that each of them has, in his/her respective capacity, been given the mandate to work for the development of Cameroon. I would like to exhort them to refrain from actions that could, in one way or the other, tarnish our country’s good image at home and abroad.

As for matters that are pending before the courts, I would like to exhort fellow compatriots to exercise restraint and show proof of discernment. Needless to remind them that Cameroon is a State where there is the rule of law and where there are institutions with the mandate to handle the different scandals. No person can legitimately act in the place of such institutions. We should have confidence in the Head of State and our country’s judiciary.

It is true that we have been disappointed in the past and left with unanswered questions. That does not, however, mean that having recourse to the social media or lynching people in the media would make it possible for the truth to prevail and for justice to be administered. I am very convinced that we will only contribute to the destruction of our country if our digital platforms, print media outfits, radio stations and television channels are awash with character assassination, calls for mob justice, vilification and defamation. Conversely, a peaceful atmosphere, discernment, sound judgement, level-headedness would, certainly, cause the truth to prevail and lead to justice.

The Nation’s representatives hereby urge Government to compel those guilty of glaring aberrations to pay for such aberrations by constantly upholding the rule of law over might.

Before I round off my speech, I would like, in particular, to address the men and women of the press. We commend the professionalism with which they discharge their tasks on a daily basis. We firmly believe that their professional duties, in an organized society like ours, need to be discharged in strict respect of their professional code of ethics, the laws of our country and in accordance with the professional training received in that regard.

In my reasoning, respecting your professional code of ethics, the laws of the land and professional principles that were taught to you would enable you to work properly, render quality services to the general public, command respect as distinguished media professionals and confer honor to your profession as a whole.

You are better placed to know the dire consequences that misinformation can have on public opinion. While exhorting you to always work with professionalism, the National Assembly extends its words of encouragement to you and wishes you the best in your noble profession. You should not forget that you are apostles-apostles of truth. You should not forget you are a special breed of historians: historians of past, present and future events.

It is on that score that I hereby declare open the first Ordinary Session of the National Assembly for the 2023 Legislative Year.

- Long live the National Assembly!

- Long live Cameroon!

- Long live Mr Paul BIYA, President of the Republic, Head of State!

 Thank you for your kind attention