Yes, we're going on a bus, to a beach, hopefully no cliff richard driving though!
this is just a quick note to say - bye for now. Gweneira, Linda and I are settiing off at 6:30 tomorrow to brave the bus station, get our tickets and take ourselves across country south to Limbe. We want to see Mount Cameroon, have hot showers in a hotel (hoping anyway!) and swim in a warm sea.
no doubt a lot more mosquitoes, 33 degrees hot, but we are leaving laptops behind and can relaaaax!
back on monday evening, inshallah!
Wednesday 31 March 2010
Sunday 28 March 2010
Everybody's talking
Santa's full Council meeting doesn't look much like a Welsh one at first glance, but dig a little deeper and there are interesting similarities!
The meeting on 26 March was unusual because first there was the installation of the new Secretary General, a role that's a mix of Town Clerk and Chief Executive, the manager of the council staff. Lots of dignitaries, family and members of the public were there, plus a group of musicians and dancers.
The dignitary list was headed by the Senior Divisional Officer for Mezam, who is the President's representative, and he oversees the council meetings and business. The list also included the Divisional Officer for Santa (another government representative), Regional Chief of Local Councils, representatives of political parties, their Royal Highnesses the Fons and Ardos, Gendarmerie Brigade Commanders, Chief of Special Branch and heads of government services. Top table included the Mayor and 4 Deputy Mayors, then all the councillors at tables forming a large square, and the public ranged around the sides. An official cameraman filmed a lot of the proceedings, but I must admit the presence of so many police made me rather hesitant to take many photographs!
After the ceremony we all got a snack - a plastic bag containing buttered sliced bread, a mini pastie, piece of chicken and piece of fish - and a soft drink. Then outside for photos and more dancing from the music group, before the council meeting eventually got under way.
The Mayor gave a nice speech, updating the council on various projects. He welcomed Gweneira and me as new VSO short-term volunteers, so we stood up for everyone to see us. We were really glad we had our new Cameroon outfits; we got lots of compliments during the day as this was clearly appreciated. Hopefully my photos will show the range of clothing - from traditional embroidered North west regional costume to western-style suits and dresses.
(photo of the 5 VSO volunteers in Santa)
Full council meetings only happen 3 or 4 times a year, and they last one to two days. Most of the work is done by committees, especially the executive committee of Mayor and Deputies. The agenda for this meeting was mainly to adopt the accounts for 2009, and this was discussed for about 3 hours.
Some Councillors got quite heated at times, especially over their allowances! Other contentious issues included lack of progress on road improvements (badly needed everywhere in the region). The council had a big shortfall in revenue raised, so a lot of expenditure had been cut. The Sanitary Inspection tax, for instance, only raised a sixth of what was budgeted, as apparently some villages don't have latrines.
One tax was for firearms, and we were interested to learn that people set off guns at funerals (called "Cry Dies") and a woman was accidentally shot dead at a funeral recently. Much discussion about the failure to collect this tax - with laughter and applause from the public when one of the top table pointed out that all the councillors had guns and should set an example by paying up their tax here and now!
On expenditure, I was interested to see that a big amount for bank charges caused very little comment, compared to the discussion on councillor training expenses, for instance. The chair of finance was very firm, especially with those raising something irrelevant, saying "I withdraw the floor from you". Then to move business on, asking "Are we together?" When it came to a vote, the Mayor was asked to leave to allow a free vote. The representatives of political parties all stood up to see how councillors were voting, and the cameraman walked round the table to film everyone with hands up!
After the accounts were approved, the Senior Divisional Officer gave a little summary in which he pointed out the Agenda had not included minutes of the previous council meeting, nor reports from committees, and he instructed the Mayor to do this at the next one. A clear indication of how much central government control there still is here, compared to Wales - decentralisation is very much a work in progress.
The SDO and entourage of police left at this point; everyone had a breather and we took the chance to leave. It had been a long day, sitting quietly at the side of the hall, and we needed to get back to Bamenda before dark. Council goes on until it's over, with a meal later on, and if the agenda hasn't been completed they stay over till the next day. Very interesting, so glad we had this great opportunity to see how it's done, but thankful that our council meetings have time limits!
The meeting on 26 March was unusual because first there was the installation of the new Secretary General, a role that's a mix of Town Clerk and Chief Executive, the manager of the council staff. Lots of dignitaries, family and members of the public were there, plus a group of musicians and dancers.
The dignitary list was headed by the Senior Divisional Officer for Mezam, who is the President's representative, and he oversees the council meetings and business. The list also included the Divisional Officer for Santa (another government representative), Regional Chief of Local Councils, representatives of political parties, their Royal Highnesses the Fons and Ardos, Gendarmerie Brigade Commanders, Chief of Special Branch and heads of government services. Top table included the Mayor and 4 Deputy Mayors, then all the councillors at tables forming a large square, and the public ranged around the sides. An official cameraman filmed a lot of the proceedings, but I must admit the presence of so many police made me rather hesitant to take many photographs!
After the ceremony we all got a snack - a plastic bag containing buttered sliced bread, a mini pastie, piece of chicken and piece of fish - and a soft drink. Then outside for photos and more dancing from the music group, before the council meeting eventually got under way.
The Mayor gave a nice speech, updating the council on various projects. He welcomed Gweneira and me as new VSO short-term volunteers, so we stood up for everyone to see us. We were really glad we had our new Cameroon outfits; we got lots of compliments during the day as this was clearly appreciated. Hopefully my photos will show the range of clothing - from traditional embroidered North west regional costume to western-style suits and dresses.
(photo of the 5 VSO volunteers in Santa)Full council meetings only happen 3 or 4 times a year, and they last one to two days. Most of the work is done by committees, especially the executive committee of Mayor and Deputies. The agenda for this meeting was mainly to adopt the accounts for 2009, and this was discussed for about 3 hours.
Some Councillors got quite heated at times, especially over their allowances! Other contentious issues included lack of progress on road improvements (badly needed everywhere in the region). The council had a big shortfall in revenue raised, so a lot of expenditure had been cut. The Sanitary Inspection tax, for instance, only raised a sixth of what was budgeted, as apparently some villages don't have latrines.
One tax was for firearms, and we were interested to learn that people set off guns at funerals (called "Cry Dies") and a woman was accidentally shot dead at a funeral recently. Much discussion about the failure to collect this tax - with laughter and applause from the public when one of the top table pointed out that all the councillors had guns and should set an example by paying up their tax here and now!
On expenditure, I was interested to see that a big amount for bank charges caused very little comment, compared to the discussion on councillor training expenses, for instance. The chair of finance was very firm, especially with those raising something irrelevant, saying "I withdraw the floor from you". Then to move business on, asking "Are we together?" When it came to a vote, the Mayor was asked to leave to allow a free vote. The representatives of political parties all stood up to see how councillors were voting, and the cameraman walked round the table to film everyone with hands up!
After the accounts were approved, the Senior Divisional Officer gave a little summary in which he pointed out the Agenda had not included minutes of the previous council meeting, nor reports from committees, and he instructed the Mayor to do this at the next one. A clear indication of how much central government control there still is here, compared to Wales - decentralisation is very much a work in progress.
The SDO and entourage of police left at this point; everyone had a breather and we took the chance to leave. It had been a long day, sitting quietly at the side of the hall, and we needed to get back to Bamenda before dark. Council goes on until it's over, with a meal later on, and if the agenda hasn't been completed they stay over till the next day. Very interesting, so glad we had this great opportunity to see how it's done, but thankful that our council meetings have time limits!
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