Against the backdrop of generalised voter apathy witnessed in preceding elections, Elections Cameroon, ELECAM, has taken a step towards boosting voter confidence ahead of the commencement of voter registration on August 15. An official of the organ charged with the organisation and management of elections and referenda, has told The SUN (see interview on page 6), that those registering shall be issued receipts pending the distribution of voters’ cards. The move, though timid according to the opposition, may be seen as an effort by the body to accede to the many demands and proposals by opposition parties and the civil society towards making elections in Cameroon free, fair and transparent.

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Of recent we have been on the field and we have always been on the field. We are working with the people; we are educating the people why we do not for instance accept ELECAM. It is not just saying no, no. We are on the field telling the people that ELECAM is going the same way like NEO. When the SDF rejected it, they said they will bring back territorial administration, the DOs etc and these are the principal election riggers. In Santa, I sat and saw how the Subdivisional Officer wrote the results in pencil and gave the SDO. He came down here changed them as much as he could change but there was no way. Before we went for elections we had a meeting with Mr. Marafa Amidou at the Congress Center in Yaounde and I told him that I know you people, I know your system, you have the results of these elections already in your cupboard.

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Activities of Cameroon’s Electricity Sector Regulatory Agency better known through its French acronym as ARSEL are since last 24 June 2010 being piloted by an Industrial Technical Engineer, Jean-Pierre Kedi. Appointed by President Paul Biya as second General Manager of ARSEL last June 23, the close to 50-year old who has been an administrator for almost 27 years, takes over from Pierre Ndouga Hell who ruled the Agency for a decade as its pioneer General Manager. Ndounga Hell’s sacking came up barely a few weeks after government blocked AES-SONEL from introducing a five percent tariff increase in June this year. Before his appointment, Jean-Pierre Kedi was Secretary General in the Ministry of Mines, Industries and Technological Development, a post he held since January 2, 2008.

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The maiden edition of the Buea Council football cop competition dubbed BUCIFOCC takes off on Sunday, July 11.
The chairman of the organizing committee, Mr. EWOME Joseph Njie, who is the Secretary General of the council told Sunsports that the competition, which carries a cash prize of FCFA.  1.5 million is expected to involve 12 to 14 teams based in the municipality.  Each competing team is expected to register with FCFA 3,000. As to what are the expectations of the council at the end of the one month tournament, Mr. Ewome said that “at the end of the tournament we must have created an impact on the life of the municipality among football fans, especially after the dismal performance of the Indomitable Lions in South Africa”.

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Without doubt, the outing of the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon at the current FIFA World Cup tournament in South Africa is one of the worst in the annals of the team’s history.  It is true that apart from the history-making performance during the 1990 edition in Italy, when Cameroon surprised the world to reach the quarter-finals – the first by an African team - the Indomitable Lions have not progressed beyond the group stages in their five other participations. However, the South Africa debacle can only be compared to the U.S.A 1994 routing, during which the team conceded one of the highest goals in the tournament.  Russia even had the pleasure of filing past six goals into Jacques Songo’s net before Roger Milla pulled one face-saving goal and in the process became the oldest player to score in a world cup tournament.

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Members of the Commonwealth Association of Women Parliamentarians (CWP), Africa Region, have expressed worry over the arithmetical progression of women in the political lives of African countries in this 21st century.
Available statistics reveal that in Nigeria and Cameroon for instance, with an estimated population of 150 million people and 20 million people respectively, there are only 25 female MPs in each of these countries. Meeting in Yaounde during their third annual conference to brainstorm on what they can do in order to transform the arithmetical progression into a geographic one, they demanded the ratification of various conventions that help the development of women, the eradication of harmful cultural and traditional practices against women and the putting in place of policies that improve the lives of the people. The theme of the confab was, "Pursuing the Gender Agenda". Sub-themes included women and the burden of care giving, best practices on constitutional reforms and other strategies to entrench the gender agenda, and a study on harmful, traditional, cultural and religious practices with focus on problems facing the CWP branches.  read more...

The World Vegetable Centre – AVRDC, an international organisation has experimented variety of vegetable seeds in Bambili, North West Region. The experiment was exposed for analysis to the public Saturday, February 21, 2009 during a Farmer’s Field Day organised at the Technical School of Agriculture, Bambili in partnership with AVRDC. The Director of the Agric Schoo,l Mr. Jonathan Ndi, welcoming the guests, who answered present for the field day, said the experiment was to promote food security and  an attempt to facilitate the alleviation of poverty and hunger amongst farmers. Mr. Ndi  also clarified that the trials on vegetables like okra, cabbage, huckleberry and pepper will enable the international NGO  recommend the species of vegetables that will do well in the different ecological zones of Cameroon. The 12 different varieties of huckleberry experimented were also given palatability test. At the end of the practical eating test, the general impression was that the huckleberry is good. The D.O. for Tubah Sub-Division,  Mr. Etta Mbokaya Ashu, marvelled by the flavour of the vegetable, wished that the experiment be conclusive to enable people enjoy good food.

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The Minister of Post and Telecommunication Jean Pierre Biyati- bi Essam , has announced the relaunching of competitive entrance exams into all cycles of the Buea post and Telecommunications School in the months ahead. He was presenting an address at the Board of Governors, meeting of the Yaoundé and Buea post and Telecommunication schools June 28 at the Buea campus.According to the minister, the two–year suspension of the entry exams was occasioned by the lack of laboratory materials which would not permit the take-off of cycle B technical training in Buea . He recalled that the Board of Governors had decided to completely transfer cycle B to the Buea campus but this transfer has only been effected in the postal sector.

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Supportive care is becoming increasingly important in the treatment of cancer. And its evaluation is developing. At the Conference of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Chicago, an American study showed that for patients being treated for cancer, yoga provides a way of combating the fatigue that often accompanies treatment. The YOCAS study – which stands for Yoga for Cancer Survivors – was based on 410 patients with early stage cancer. Professor Karen Mustian’s team from the University of Rochester studied the effects of yoga on sleep. Indeed, many patients being treated for cancer suffer from sleep problems, often accompanied by diurnal somnolence, and this can impact significantly on their quality of life.

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Last Sunday was a day of great pride for any Presbyterian worthy of the name. The transfer of the pectoral cross from the Very Rev. Nyansako-ni-nku to the Rt. Rev. Festus Asana was an event pregnant with significance. What struck me most was the fact that the ultimate symbol of spiritual authority over a Church that is at least a million strong is a cross, not a crown. Whatever glamour, pomp and splendour accompanied the transfer, the symbolism was unambiguous – that it was all about servitude, not power. And the unassuming new Moderator did not miss the point when he said “you did not come here today to honour two people (himself and the Synod Clerk) but to give glory to God.” Watching the event, I was interested in the expression on the faces of the political and administrative bigwigs in attendance. Of course, you can understand some poker faces.  read more...

For a very long time now, Fako indigenes have gone through thick and thin. The reasons are obvious: Lack of collaboration and selflessness. Very excellent administrators they are, and can be, when entrusted with responsibilities, but they lack the will to allow others grow (if not planted). This has been the main problem.
People of other Divisions and Regions take the opportunity to pray and bless their kith and kin to have more blessings flow, so that their cups will overflow to bless even the less fortunate to grow as well. This was not the case with old order of Fako elites, who found themselves in positions of leadership. Here comes a new breed of Fako elites, of whom, we look forward to changing this old order and to make the Fako man proud once more, as it has always been the case.

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SUBJECT:  OPEN NATIONAL INVITATION TO TENDER NO. 003/ONIT/BC-TB/2010 of 29/6/2010 
FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE BUEA COUNCIL CHAMBERS

FUNDING:  FEICO BUDGET 
                   2009 Financial Year

1.PURPOSE OF THE OPEN NATIONAL INVITAION TO TENDER
The Mayor of BUEA Council, Contracting Authority of this investment project hereby launches an Open National Invitation to Tender for the construction of its Council Chambers, in the 2010 financial year, in the locality of BUEA

2.CONDITIONS FOR PARTICIPATION
Participation is open, under the same conditions, to all enterprises which are based in the Republic of Cameroon and fulfil the conditions stated in the special regulations governing the invitation to tender which is the document

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