Life

12, June 2016

Prime Minister Philemon Yang announces free distribution of text books ⁰

Ever since the consortium of CPDM crime syndicates took over the running of political affairs in Cameroon, the textbook market has been immersed in a veritable mafia system where education authorities, publishers including school officials come together to enrich themselves at the detriment of parents each school year. Books in the school curriculum are increasing and regularly change and the prices too are exorbitant. This disastrous situation was recently brought to the attention of the Prime Minister and Head of Government by MPs. Correspondingly; Prime Minister Philemon Yang on the 10^th of June 2016 unveiled an action plan in response to concerns regarding textbooks.

Philemon Yang announced an unprecedented free distribution of Mathematics books to the Basic Education sector students. Cameroon Intelligence Report gathered that the Government has already implemented a number of measures including the creation of school libraries, the construction of multimedia centers and installing digital documents. The operation for the next school year will cost Cameroon, two billion 260 million FCFA.

Ebong Kingsley

9, June 2016

University of Yaounde 1: Three lecturers suspended for sexual harrassment ²

Professor Njiale Pierre Marie, lecturer at the Faculty of Arts, Letters and Social Sciences, Yaounde University 1 has been convicted by the disciplinary board for sexual harassment and given a 4 year ban. Njiale Pierre Marie was trapped by his student through a telephone recording in which admissions were made. Cameroon Intelligence Report was told that his suspension may be extended if obligation to respect professional ethics are not met before 2018. We gathered that Professor Temdjim, Lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine and Bio medical Sciences (MNF) and Dr. Fridolin Nke have also been suspended for similar offenses.

Female students in Cameroonian universities have been at the mercy of President Biya and his appointees. Many cases reported previously recorded no sanctions because some of the rectors feared reprisals from the regime. Ever since his appointment as Secretary General of the University of Yaounde 1, Professor Jean Emmanuel Pondi has been waging a real battle against this scourge. He has also written extensively on “Sexual Harassment and academic ethics.”

CIR

9, June 2016

400,000 Cameroonians living with the sickle cell disease ⁰

Yaounde, the nation’s capital is hosting the 2nd Congress of sickle cell disease under the theme ” Sickle Cell Disease in Cameroon: Place, Care and Prospects”. Cameroon Intelligence Report learnt that the forum has been placed under the patronage of the Minister of Public Health, the controversial Andre Mama Fouda.

According to a recent study, 400 000 people are living with the sickle cell disease in Cameroon. The same study hinted that 1 out of every 3 Cameroonian has the “SS” gene. Minister Mama Fouda opened the congress and unveiled the National Blood Donor Card scheme.

CIR

9, June 2016

Cameroon to honor free blood donors ⁰

A new card system to encourage and recognize free blood donors has been launched under the National Blood Transfusion Program. The Minister of Public Health, Andre Mama Fouda presided over the ceremony in Yaounde on the 8^th of June 2016. Minister Andre Mama Fouda explained that the card system will enhance visibility and trace-ability in the health sector.

The new system comprises four cards:

– White for first time blood donors

– Green for those who have donated thrice

– Yellow for ten times donors

– Gold for those who have donated more than 20 times,

The cards will be accompanied by incentives. Public Health officials noted that before spreading to regional-hospitals, the pilot phase of the card system will take place in two health units: the Yaounde Central Hospital and the Douala Laquintinie Hospital for six months.

During the ceremony, a collaboration manual to facilitate the work between associations that promote free blood donation and the National Blood Transfusion Program was also launched. Cameroon will on 14th June 2016 join the international community to commemorate the International Blood Donor Day under the theme, “Blood connects us all”.

CRTV/CIR

7, June 2016

UN Economic Commission for Africa says “Cameroonian city dwellers live below UN poverty line” ⁰

The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa has reported that most Cameroonian city dwellers still live below UN poverty line. The declaration was made public during the fourth dialogue on development planning in Africa. The three day forum that focused on integrating urbanization in national development planning in Africa was also geared at sensitizing all 54 African countries on practical urbanization policies.

During the atelier, the UN body hinted that the percentage of Africans living in urban areas has increased to 40% with 55% GDP. The UN Economic Commission for Africa further observed that Cameroon’s rate of urbanization was 55% including 312 towns. The UN regretted that most city dwellers still live in abject poverty and are subject to economic, social, cultural and environmental difficulties which most at times leads to social instability.

The diversified seminar was attended by the Ministers of Urban Development and housing Jean Claude Mbwentchou and that of Economy Planning and Regional Development Louis Paul Motaze, under the chairmanship of the Resident Coordinator of the UN Moussa Abari.

CRTV

6, June 2016

Marole Tchamba in US ⁰

The Bend Skin star will this Saturday begin a tour of the USA starting from Silver Spring, Maryland!!

CIN

5, June 2016

The Whispers ⁰

Oh the myths

Anarchist creed

In birthing

Idea

Person

Some complexity

The sword of Damycles

Stealing power

For anxiety

Terror

Danger

Death and killings

Oh the impending doom

Facing the throne

The hanging sword

The head

The risk and anger

Doors shut

Fear

Isolation and bullying

Robespierre’s chambers

Self loathing king

Empty judiciary

The jokish legislative

Vulnerability

Injustice and terrorism

Victims victimization

The innocents

The people

The land and

The fallen out of grace

Someday, just maybe someday

Comes now a visionary

‘by and through

Undersigned counsel

And files a true motion

For custody

Reasonable visitation

Pursuant of Cameroon law code

As for my motions states as follows

Wherefore to

Defendant stole

He killed

He abused

He emperor zed

Oh the times

There is dancing

In the streets

In the homes

In the schools

Even babies unborn

Are celebrating

In their mothers womb

The end and the beginning

Oh peaceful silent noise

The whipers

Tears of joy

Songs of freedom

Hopeful promises

Dancing at liberty square

In praise and memory

Of the ultimate sacrifices

The precious blood

Of liberty

Of patriotism

Of peaceful resistance

Yet still

The Whispers

Of the cleansing

Calcutta Calcutta they shouted

But the land is forgiving

The people are forgiving

By Christmas Ebini

3, June 2016

Cameroon: First Canal Olympia Cinema theatre to open June 14 ⁰

Cameroon will in June 2016, welcome the biggest and sophisticated cinema and theatre hall at the University of Yaounde 1.The Vivendi group has announced that the cinema theatre and performance hall labelled Canal Olympia, whose construction works are currently ongoing on the campus of the Yaoundé I University, in the Cameroonian capital, will officially open on June 14, 2016 by Prime Minister Philemon Yang

Reliable sources inform that, after Yaoundé, this company specialised in entertainment is planning, as part of its program aimed at investing in the cultural industry in Africa, to build at least two other cinema and performance halls in the cities of Douala and Bafoussam. As a reminder, Cameroon no longer has a cinema since January 2009, when the Abbia Cinema in Yaoundé and the Wouri in Douala were closed.

3, June 2016

Yaounde hosting International Book Fair ⁰

The esplanade of the National Museum in Yaounde is the venue of the second Yaounde International Book Fair, which kicked off yesterday, June 2, 2016, on the theme: “The Book as Instrument of Integration and Development.”

Organised by the Ministry of Arts and Culture, this year’s edition brings together Cameroonian writers in the Diaspora, authors from the continent and about 20 other countries to enrich the book fair. The second edition comes after the first that was organised three years ago. Cameroonians of all walks of life thronged the venue yesterday to discover the books on display and even meet the writers.

The Technical Director in the Ministry of Arts and Culture, Dr. Asheri Kilo, said the book fair was an opportunity for young writers to sharpen their skills as there are workshops where older writers engage younger colleagues, offering tips on writing. Dr. Asheri Kilo said the wish of the Minister of Arts and Culture, Prof. Narcisse Mouelle Kombi, was to get Cameroonians read more. She said with books from all the 10 regions of Cameroon, visitors were enriched with a totality of the cultural values that the nation offers.

This year, special honour is given to five Cameroonian pioneer writers. Yesterday June 2, 2016, was dedicated to Mongo Beti. This explains why stands had the late writer’s books on exhibition and for sale. It was an opportunity for Cameroonians to buy books by the author they could not find earlier. Today, June 3, 2016, will be the day for Sultan Mbombo Njoya, the author of the Bamoun language. Cameroonians will have the opportunity to discover the Bamoun language, which is one of the earliest Cameroonian writings to be orthographed and is today standardised. Artefacts and books from the Bamoun Palace will also be exhibited to honour Sultan Mbombo Njoya.

Saturday, June 4, 2016, is the day to honour Professor Bernard Nsokika Fonlon. It will be an opportunity to see him in picture and some of his writings like the “Genuine Intellectual,” one of the most significant journals that Cameroon ever had, starting as early as the 1960s. This will be followed by the Ferdinand Oyono Day. Oyono’s pictures will be displayed and his books such as “The old Man and the Medal” and others will be on the stands.

The last day will be the Francis Bebey Day. He is one of the authors that many Cameroonians do not know. Pictures and books written by Francis Bebey will be displayed for young Cameroonians to discover him and also buy his works.

Cameroon Tribune

3, June 2016

Spotlight on Miss Prestige Cameroon ⁰

The organizers of the Miss Prestige Cameroon competition organised a Press Conference on Wednesday, 13th April 2016 to brief pressmen on selection criteria for the competition. During the press conference in Yaounde, the Director General of the Miss Prestige Cameroon competition, Marina Fankam Tchassem explained that this year’s event shall centre on peace since culture has been identified as a means to promote peace in Cameroon.

In this light, those eligible for the competition include Cameroonians aged between 18 to 26 years who show proof of patriotism and possess entrepreneurship values. Miss Prestige Cameroon is a beauty contest which seeks to promote the values of intelligence and peace.