CRTV - PRESS HOUR - (CRISIS in NW/SW : DIALOGUE ? - CAMEROONIAN DIASPORA) - Sunday 12th July 2020

Estimated read time: 1:20

Summary

In this episode of Press Hour, host Lamuka explores the ongoing crisis in Cameroon's Northwest and Southwest regions, focusing on the potential role of dialogue as a solution. The show features a panel of experts including political scientists, media and development specialists, and peace and conflict experts, discussing the intricacies of dialogue and the participation of the Cameroonian diaspora. The panel weighs in on the need for inclusive dialogue, challenges faced by diaspora members, and their potential contributions to national development. The episode emphasizes the importance of resolving the crisis through genuine dialogue while leveraging the diaspora's talents and resources.

Highlights

Experts agree on dialogue's critical role but stress the importance of an inclusive approach. 🔍
Government's previous dialogue attempts lacked full stakeholder participation. 🚪
Cameroon's diaspora is a significant, yet underutilized, asset. ✈️
Reforms could entice more diaspora members back to Cameroon. 🏠
Past dialogues like the Grand National Dialogue were critiqued for limited representation. 📋

Key Takeaways

Dialogue is vital for resolving conflicts in Cameroon, but it needs inclusivity to be effective. 🗨️
The Cameroonian government and secessionists have strained relations, complicating peace attempts. 😓
Cameroon's diaspora holds vast potential, yet the country struggles to fully harness it. 🌍
Political and economic reforms can better integrate the diaspora, boosting national growth. 💪
Successful resolutions demand acknowledging the legitimacy of all grievances involved. ⚖️

Overview

This lively episode of Press Hour, hosted by Lamuka, delves into the entrenched socio-political crisis in Cameroon's Northwest and Southwest regions. The discussion pivots on whether dialogue has been adequately exploited as a tool for peace, touching upon both overt and covert dialogue attempts. The spotlight is on how critical genuine dialogue is, involving all relevant parties and acknowledging their disputes and demands.

The panel brings together distinguished guests from diverse fields including political science and peace studies. They debate the efficacy of past dialogues like the Grand National Dialogue and propose more inclusive, representative dialogue strategies. Critically, the discussion highlights the fundamental need to admit all parties onto the negotiation table, including the much-debated roles of secessionists and government.

Additionally, the episode focuses on the Cameroonian diaspora, recognizing it as a powerful economic and cultural force. Yet, it is noted that the diaspora's impact could be amplified with better integration tactics, such as dual nationality, investment incentives, and improved socio-political climates back home. The experts shed light on these facets, emphasizing the necessity for effective policy reforms to turn brain drain into brain gain.

Chapters

00:00 - 00:30: Introduction The chapter titled 'Introduction' begins with a quote by Paul Brunton emphasizing the inherent bias in discussions that are ego-driven. Such discussions, according to Brunton, are flawed from the outset as they prioritize self-interest, leading to skewed interpretations of arguments, words, and facts.
00:30 - 16:30: Discussion on Crisis in NW/SW Regions and Dialogue The chapter focuses on the ongoing crisis in the Northwest and Southwest regions, with particular attention to a recent dialogue that aimed to address the conflict. The narrative questions whether the dialogue, which has not been fully utilized, could be the ultimate solution to end the ongoing crisis. It also emphasizes the need to assess if dialogue could serve as the key to resolving the conflict effectively.
16:30 - 49:00: Role of the Cameroonian Diaspora The chapter discusses the valuable role of the Cameroonian diaspora in the country's development. It highlights the diaspora as a significant asset, though it suggests that this potential is currently underutilized or wasted. The chapter is structured around a discussion or panel format, featuring various speakers including Elias and ghulami. The focus appears to be on how the diaspora can effectively contribute to the national development agenda.
49:00 - 69:30: Panelists' Experiences Abroad The chapter covers a session where different panelists with expertise in various fields share their experiences abroad. It begins by introducing Eugene Fama, noted for his work in media and development. Another panelist, Dr. Eddie, a political scientist from the University of Voya, is also introduced. There is a focus on acknowledging the diverse capacities and titles held by the panelists.
69:30 - 87:00: Potential of the Diaspora for Cameroon The chapter discusses the potential contributions of the Cameroonian diaspora to the country's development. The speaker is a leader in the Cameroonian community in London, emphasizing efforts to connect and leverage the diaspora's resources. Dr. Elvis, from the University of Voya, is highlighted for his commitment and sacrifice in engaging with diaspora activities, overcoming obstacles to participate.
87:00 - 100:00: Conclusion and Closing Remarks The chapter titled 'Conclusion and Closing Remarks' includes the introduction of Mr. Joshua Rock, an expert in peace and conflict, as a guest. Mr. Rock expresses his pleasure and gratitude for the invitation, noting it as his first appearance on the program.
100:00 - 107:00: Music and Farewell The chapter titled 'Music and Farewell' reflects on various happenings within and outside Cameroon, as reported by the press. The discussion includes a week in review section led by Emanuel Ax, focusing on news reports and the supposed talks on an F ceasefire.

CRTV - PRESS HOUR - (CRISIS in NW/SW : DIALOGUE ? - CAMEROONIAN DIASPORA) - Sunday 12th July 2020 Transcription

00:00 - 00:30 good day and welcome to yet another edition of press our every discussion which is made from an egoistic standpoint is corrupted from the start and cannot yield an absolutely sure conclusion the ego puts his own interest first and twists every argument every word and even fact to suit its interest Paul Bunton this quote by Paul Brunton
00:30 - 01:00 describes it to a large extent the situation of the crisis in the northwest and Southwest regions there are a course of dialogue that took place this week just ended as part of the efforts to end the senseless war on press our today we shall be questioning whether dialogue is not the magic one to bring an end to the crisis but has not been exploited to its fullest we should also look at the
01:00 - 01:30 Cameroonian dice forum as an asset to the country's development but apparently wasted that's how going to look at the world today on press are to discuss these issues we have a full house a panel here I'm going to start with Elias and ghulami who's an old person in the house good morning Elias thank you yes
01:30 - 02:00 just next to you is Eugene fama Eugene Fung Wah is the an expert in media and development yes sir we have dr. Eddie's work a political scientist University of voya dr. I know you have so many other titles can you let let us know what other capacities okay thank you for having me
02:00 - 02:30 again and good day everyone I'm also the president the founder of Cameron citizen advice glue and I am the subsection president of CPD am in Londyn no dishonor thank you ladies and gentlemen dr. Elvis has come all the way from the department of political science of the University of voya he travelled to use his means use his time use his energy for press ah even he had problems on the way he said
02:30 - 03:00 he was going not going to stop he made we are pleased and close to me we have a mr. Joshua Rock array mr. Henshaw or Akari is an expert in peace and Conflict welcome good morning good afternoon to our viewers and also to my companies I'm happy you invited me is my first time being on press are uneasy program
03:00 - 03:30 wishes watched by many in and out of Cameroon we're talking about what the press fed on this week just ending and that's how we're going to start the program today with the Week in Review on our slot press review by Emanuel Ax that me Manuela newspapers were at eat again churning out news reports about happenings within and without the country supposed talks on F ceasefire in
03:30 - 04:00 the northwest and Southwest regions between government and separatist leaders went viral the stage is set for peace to return to the northwest and Southwest are the guardian posters BR kick-starts proper peace process and The Voice newspaper government meets jailed separatist leaders for peace talks writes the post to the scope hope for return to normalcy as jailed Amba leaders governments begin talks the son rights governments separatists begin
04:00 - 04:30 UN imposed ceasefire talks the media is clear seasick oh I October confounds government with tough demands the interest of Lucie do is on talks between government and geo to Amazonian leadership that meets mixed reactions news watch reports the ceasefire in view as government Jaret Amazonian leaders begin talks the same sees a tox carried by the reporter the horizon headlines a octavian core claims
04:30 - 05:00 secret talks with governments that weren't then cadena to me bucks talks between government and I October and Co on The Chronicle times Cameroon Tribune reports that the supposed peace talks to not reflect the reality even as the mediator confirms talks between governmental Sequoyah yolk & Co on the Guardian post before the paper questions ceasefire talks whose truth is true to
05:00 - 05:30 the post weekender government hardliners in fighting among separatists stifling peace negotiations as power mangas beneficiaries of juicy war booty standing in the way of dialogue then bi raises old age incapacity pensions and death benefits by 20% on the horizon The Guardian Post specifies that the beneficiaries are retired civil servants as Cameron Tribune are sure that the implementation is imminent as from
05:30 - 06:00 August 1 then for our injured in a bomb blast in unity on the Guardian Post as the voice presents hidden agenda behind multiple bomb blasts in Yan day at a time a nursing mother is cute inba manda by a stray bullet on the same paper a man in military attire beats bikerider to death over 500 France in bandages when military destroys 16 amber cams in Bowie go curtain jump with 17 fighters
06:00 - 06:30 soldiers cute in military reads another black weekend his reporters for Anglophones on the Guardian post as John a bungle a PCC pasta for my memory education delegate or die to the voice finest mention researcher r1j Jana succumbs to death then death snatches prominence Anglophone Vasily done on the Guardian post to the post weekend de u
06:30 - 07:00 bar registrar professor Victor mandolin dies the reconstruction plan receives unwavering support from the southwest region on the pocket the star rights Minister Essam charm südwest beneficiaries the Eden quotes mini status on whether gunshots or not reconstruction must go on to echo outlook reconstruction plan assured the Guardian post publishing faeces of some renown Anglophones asked where they are
07:00 - 07:30 and what they have become let's now end up press review with this theory on the post weekend aware in military and amber fighters clashed over control of lucrative checkpoint the clash at mile 90 on the Birman de ballet batty boo highway left a soldier and an Amber fighter dead the fighters are said to have sent words to the military to stop controlling and collecting money from drivers on that sport and the forces of law and order ignored it
07:30 - 08:00 leading to the deadly clash until I come your way again this is your are with the press [Music] thank you very much in Manila you listened to her talking about dialogue that we're going to discuss to the ladies and gentlemen and we start straightaway with one of our guests who is a political scientist from the
08:00 - 08:30 University of Oya political science of course doctor that dialogue took place whatever form let's look at the importance of dialogue in ending whatever conflict argument misunderstanding its places in a situation of crisis we all know without dialogue we may not have an agreement
08:30 - 09:00 and we will not see the future in one direction as a nation and as a people and therefore dialogue is the most important thing in situations like this that we face now challenges challenging periods and if one to top of dialogue we are very very extremely lucky and blessed in Cameroon and the head of state president Paul Biya has actually opened up the avenue of
09:00 - 09:30 dialogue for the challenges we have in the Northwest and Southwest regions and when one will further the dialogue I will say this is the time they're our people the Southwest and northwest regions the people have suffered enough and the head of state has actually recent and heard the people's cry and the dialogue that the national dialogue that was offered to the nation is a masterpiece gesture of which mercy say
09:30 - 10:00 thank you for him and dialogue never ends dialogue is a continuous process not what I was going to ask you is continuous are we actually getting out of the crisis with the various open and hidden dialogues that we have heard what is stopping this given the importance I think a lot of people have misunderstood the context of dialogue itself and when
10:00 - 10:30 they expect the head of the state to actually sit down with what the state considers as a succession is movement it is what we will never get it divides it defies political theories and legal rules of the International order therefore our people will not be expecting secessionist to stand with the state the state will ever sit with
10:30 - 11:00 secession is to talk about an issue involving territorial integrity of the nation good we are going to come back to that in details mr. Orrick array Henschel you are an expert in peace and Conflict this falls squarely within your competence first the importance of dialogue and we reference to the dialogue that has been reported this
11:00 - 11:30 week 14 issue - when it comes to conflict management and resolution dialogue is very important we have seen international treaties international conventions and other peace settlements which have been taking place in Africa and other parts of the world and we are talking about Cameroon when you war war war you finally end on the dialogue table Nelson Mandela showed us when
11:30 - 12:00 there was appetite in South Africa does it speak example we have lead Central General Kofi Annan was an architect of dialogue without forgetting major Abdullah who later became the head of state in Senegal he had so many conflicts along the way most in West Africa dialogue is very important Percy the Cameroon situation
12:00 - 12:30 the Anglophone crisis has been ongoing for close to four years now and the military and the secessionists have been fighting up till now there is no solution to the problem so and in there are two components in solving the problem either you use the head method which is wrong or the soft method which is dialogue and the heart method has been used for all this why no positive foods have been healed that's why the head of state president we had deemed it
12:30 - 13:00 necessary to organise a major national dialogue some months ago which communions are still waiting for the measures to be implemented and we saw mr. Tarson who went down to the northwest and southeast regions to do some reconstructions but we know we cannot reconstruct why people are still fighting because if you reconstruct why people are fighting they are going to destroy those things and those who constructions will not be they will not
13:00 - 13:30 be done on time analysts and me not last and that is why at the end during the end of the week we had some information although there was a disclaimer from the government that the SICU I hope today with a so-called presenter of the Bosnian Republic had some talks with government chance many people were happy because when it comes to conflict resolution dialogue is an important - that the softmax area is more important than the hard one because if you force somebody
13:30 - 14:00 to do something the person wouldn't are there to their ideas and there will be a deadlock into the dialogue and that's why we are loading disabilities and the military or the the government to come and sit on dialogue in table we have seen and you have heard how the UN is calling on president popular and the secessionist you sit down and dialogue so that this problem can come to an end the previous speaker said there's no way the government distinct and secessionist
14:00 - 14:30 whom they call terrorists can sit together are you see that can happen it can happen I can put the example of Khmer Rouge in Cambodia this sat on a dialogue table I can put the example of in South Africa do we never had militia that was it's another type of issue which was on the table you cannot say that you know sit on a table and dialogue with isolationist or those who are against you because you have an
14:30 - 15:00 enemy and in this context this conflict is a complex one because we have the Ambassador fighters have many factions then amongst them you have other civilians were also kidnapping raping as we are killing other people military as well as civilians we cannot we cannot affirm that you cannot sit on a table and dialogue with decisions in in my introduction I talked about a quartet Paul Brunton
15:00 - 15:30 who says that in the situation of dialogue where a GU egoism takes the front line central stage it would be difficult because the two parties will twist everything will twist words within twist facts to suit their interest what we are saying is that these interests can be put aside this interest can be put aside we can happen in circle I think that that's what has made this situation come up to where we are
15:30 - 16:00 because effectively it is twisting facts twisting words twisting that has made things not to work that's what I was saying that CC qu I October kept his Zuko presidential might to drop it down in the interest of the people to sit down with some government officials or do it this is disclaimer but they can never be any smoke without any smoke with a fire there's something at backstage making what is that dialogue we take place go up come down those two
16:00 - 16:30 people from the government or from the secessionist we sit down and dialogue in order that is conflict to come to an end thank you one day yes you didn't listen to them they have expressed their views on this first before you even come up the importance of dialogue it's a it's a magic one that we have not exploited magic wand it's important in that it sets in motion the process of ending a
16:30 - 17:00 conflict it's in to dialogue that issues are agreed on and where the parties can actually accept to disagree on certain issues and move forward with a common understanding about where each one starts so for me dialogue is really just an avenue to negotiate the end of a conflict situation and and that's what has been missing in our conflict for the last three four years in that we've all
17:00 - 17:30 kept entrenched positions that's all the parties if you take a position like the one dog has just mentioned we can't negotiate with terrorists that's a very radical and extrange position and the other side not accepting any process that's been initiated from your own day that's also very entrenched position I think the goal now in this process is to try to get to a point where both sides understand that dialogue is important
17:30 - 18:00 and I think that understanding is beginning to emerge and that all claims are legitimate you cut the only reason you discuss is because there's disagreement if there's agreement there's no need for that and you can't go into that process without acknowledging that everyone has a legitimate claim you may disagree with the claim but at least it's legitimate from the perspective of the different parties alas what is failing that we are
18:00 - 18:30 coming up to this while like others just tell us whatever happened hidden or open dialogue disclaimed or not dialogue is essential for wayforward can be a magic one depending on what approach or what methodology you use you know the government has been touting the grand national dialogue us is the pathway to peace then we see that it's not working
18:30 - 19:00 it's just not working so to me I think that it was even approached when international bodies come here and advise the government for an all inclusive dialogue me I see and that our inclusiveness to be the the main protagonist the cessation is Andy Kaufman's but with the gun hello not the gun that's no dialogue it was like a General Assembly every stakeholder came in and it was just to me right I didn't
19:00 - 19:30 it didn't touch it didn't hit the nail on the head so we are looking forward sugar it's equation a dialogue situation where the the main protagonist we sit and we see how that works out you're talking about the major national dialogue that took place last year if it is the recommendations are fully implemented will it be part of not saying that you didn't see will it not
19:30 - 20:00 be part of the solution it's not a matter of whether the the recommendations are fully implemented we have seen the situation is aggravating on the ground it is not the implementation of those well I remember one of the recommendations was reinforced a decentralization but the protocol is they have their own demands on that the
20:00 - 20:30 ones we put on the table the government should listen to them and then because to I'll have at any positive results the mantras all give a dick are you saying when you look at where we were before the crisis came up and you see the path we have followed some people have described the path as appeasement others have even described it as concessions are we saying that you don't take that into consideration the the main problem
20:30 - 21:00 with the major national dialogue is that there was not sufficient participation I did I remember I did say that even the special status which was floated around as one of the key outcomes of that process if that had emerged from a negotiated process it would work the
21:00 - 21:30 problem is that I do you mean by negative the problem is that the other party is not part of the process is still at the script remember if we look at the history of this crisis its you're only taking decisions on behalf of the people and the grand national dialogue was very much the same approach in spite of the fact that you had all of these people come together the trapa tight field for the same reasons that it is a
21:30 - 22:00 process that is driven from then from from year one day to advance pre set objectives of yone and so when people feel that are not part of it even if the solutions are correct they're going to reject it on the basis that it's been imposed on them and across the world each time governments have tried to impose sometimes even in the interest of the aggrieved population it hasn't work but when people participate in
22:00 - 22:30 arriving at that decision them kinds all kinds of mechanisms that you can use to include people in these kinds of processes here talk they stand a better chance of succeeding you talked of dialogue being a process you cited the tripartite in the 1991 you've talked of the major national dialogue of last year which means is a process don't you acknowledge what just happened you know I mean it's it's moved
22:30 - 23:00 pin but and that we have a sense that there is a recognition that there is need to talk before that event it was very clear in the public opinion of Cameroonians that the government was unwilling to have a conversation on this issue the major change in my view that came out of that process is that the government now recognizes that there is need to talk and that you can only
23:00 - 23:30 resolve or begin to resolve the problem by talking it failed in the sense that they talk to the wrong people okay prof doctor dr. Elvis the government might not have just recognized it now because I remember government sent some emissaries some teams to go to the dice for and talk to the Cameroonians because it is said that what is happening in Cameroon is
23:30 - 24:00 generated from from the Diaspora what exactly should we do so that this dialogue gets to a step that can lead to the resolution of this problem and what I would like to ask even my panelists here is I the talk of sitting down the government should dialogue with who who should the government dialogue with they themselves can tell me they know about
24:00 - 24:30 two four five six leadership's contentions in the secessionist movement who the government dialogue with and that is why the head of state for a man who listens who put up the national dialogue it was not restricted he was all inclusive so that every party can participate now most of this leadership that they claim want has to sit on the table reject this offer watch the
24:30 - 25:00 government do the head of state and the state has to do a job and that is listening to the people the people are suffering and it affect the dialogue so that we can have an inclusive dialogue from all the parties regardless of what you stand for as a process Socialist Movement we the head of state listen to that now the saying that they will not participate in the dialogue
25:00 - 25:30 they won't now participate in the dialogue so who will the government sit down with secondly we can do if we say this is conflict and we can trace back the roots of this conflict and we can see that prior to the national dialogue most of the consents of the teachers and lawyers were already sourced resolved by the government that water carries an additional trust what I call appeasement
25:30 - 26:00 and concessions so Thank You Killian and this is not only there the major dialogue itself has a major opening for elements who are still dissatisfied to eat to bring input that's why the head of government the chairman of the national dialogue said it is something that is ongoing and as this sesang said in their hands to connect with whoever has input consent proposals so that we
26:00 - 26:30 can be so my own concern as as as as as a scientist is should they stay deal down because you have elements who are disagreeing to dialogue the states move on there are rules in in dialogue in achieving peace and this is the platform
26:30 - 27:00 already laid by the head of state Thank You mr. Arak re we talk about dialogue the those people are the Hawaiian the bushes who are causing the atrocities that we are suffering from another broad even if we said that they are delegated from abroad why don't we reduce according to you as a peace and Conflict export bring the dialogue to
27:00 - 27:30 develop meat but these guys who are in the bushes the way that dialogue can go down that way following your experience in peace and conflict resolution first of all before I answer your question I want to paint an ideal configuration set up when there is conflict you have to identify the causes the immediate and remote causes because in conflict situations the always hidden agendas like what my brother was saying besides
27:30 - 28:00 me that the demands of the people the stitches our lawyers have been met but when those booked him with those causes they hearted it agenda for secession or federalism so we have gone to another stage and you should identify the leaders what the head of the various party so that they can sit down the motive that we also have somebody who has a moral physical intellectual too busy with nutri who can serve as a mediator between the parties and
28:00 - 28:30 sometimes we can't even choose a neutral venue when nobody would be intimidated you have the situation where people sometimes been maybe in Cameroon they are freed that by the time they come up with some points as deleted a spa becoming a movie instead that's why many of them didn't come to come on during the major national dialogue and us asking me the question why is it that those who are in the bushes we cannot dialogue with them those behind the bushes have leaders who
28:30 - 29:00 are abroad and those did they receive orders from those leaders all those who want to ask me that the main leader you have many leaders who have Chris a new sequel table a Saku and the guys were guiding them back sending them fundings and maybe some time weapons I don't know how they do that you have to sit with those people maybe that's out of Cameroon and have a proper set up for dialogue in and when it comes to this point they will be concession cause those people are the points visuals cessationists I'm going
29:00 - 29:30 to bring all the government will not be accepted by many that's what we call secession or sometime compromise and there will be a time frame for those points which were selected by both parties to be implemented and they should be implemented as quick as possible following the deadline which both parties agreed upon if not another party we think that is Dupree that another person wants to implement so that's why this conflict is on greening come along now before we move out of that of it that that would be the last
29:30 - 30:00 person the problem is government cannot sit on the same table in parity but people do recognize I mean that's that's very very dubious discourse that has been wrapped around this issue and and particularly to to avoid an outcome that includes the legitimization of the secessionist movement except that the
30:00 - 30:30 problem with that approach is that that secessionist movement exists and it's quite strong the government understands how much it has eaten into the resources of this country the government understands how much it has affected the economy of this con exactly that is legitimate you have to how are you going to solve it you at least acknowledge it legitimization doesn't mean that you say yes to secession you acknowledge that
30:30 - 31:00 yes there are people who feel strongly even if you disagree with that that the Union doesn't walk again start by accepting that there are people with those concerns from there you may even discover that the outcome of the process would not even be a divided cameroon thank you i think that for recognition it have been done is their way forward that there is there are
31:00 - 31:30 problems which way forward for both parties that leads us to second topic for today and before we discussed the communion dies were as an asset that has been wasted to an extent for the development of the country we are going to listen to this report by esta kima
31:30 - 32:00 there are over five million who formed cameroon's diasporan whose hearts still beats for fatherland they are contributing to the development of the country especially through remittances that standard over five hundred and ninety billion see if a friends as a 2019 to ensure that it become full-fledged actors in the economic social and cultural development process deputy speaker honourable floor daughter to agrees with the network's
32:00 - 32:30 president's honorable john wayne gotcha that reforms are essential to maximize their outputs there are a lot on a lot of issues that these guys how did i have that window given opportunity to come back home and contribute this country will never be the same as reiterated by governments the political will to involve the - polarize evidence through the creation of the full room for the diaspora and the participation in the major national dialogue we thought that a bank to be created for the diaspora
32:30 - 33:00 and some commission put in place to facilitate they are coming back to the meantime the parliamentary network for the promotion of social and solidarity economy led by honourable to visa elisa chartered their plan of action i've tried to bring out the social economic and solidarity in our country and this course the version of a bill last year and we are advocating that the bill should be put into practice and proper execution so that
33:00 - 33:30 our people should know the importance of social economy our solidarity as for the insurance promotion network Honorable Germany Benilde and his colleagues advocated for better insurance policies when you discover that at the time of insuring everything moves smoothly but a time you have a problem it becomes a problem this is what the Cumbrian people don't want and this is what the National Assembly is been and trying to rectify the executive committee Bureau was also elected during the deliberations there
33:30 - 34:00 was so much talk about dice for I in Parliament which was not exactly that we listened to the research Network parliamentary network for the dice for a decentralization and people living abroad Cameroonians and during the week they went round lobbying the when round
34:00 - 34:30 contacting some institutions heads of institutions leaders opinion leaders to make sure that the dice for the communion dice for can be brought on board to engineer the development of the country one of the leaders is the secretary-general of the network Honorable Daniel in gali a Tonga he's going to tell us exactly some of the things they did this week to make sure
34:30 - 35:00 that the network works in the network on decentralisation diaspora and the cross-border cooperation came to meet the minister at it as it has been the case because this is not the first outing we have met with the people are the presidency we have met with the
35:00 - 35:30 prime ministry and the other ministry before coming here and we thought that insofar as this ministry is concerned it has a lot to play with and so we came to tap from the rich experience of the man heading the ministry and to seek their collaboration to see that we beef up the relationship between our brothers who are abroad and the government by saying that they're rich talents that we have abroad can be
35:30 - 36:00 used in the country and added you to also tap from the wealth of the country to make this country great we have had the audience's we are going to make trips abroad and we are going to communicate with our various embassies because we cannot do anything abroad without passing through the embassies as you heard from the president we are going to meet all Cameroonians no matter their shapes of opinion political leanings and so on we want to build this
36:00 - 36:30 country with the collaboration of all Cameroonians we are going to tell them that no matter our political leaning the country interest is fast insofar as this country is concerned we actually should know that politics will pass by the country should stay and so it is of our interest to see that we put our hands and heads together to build this nation that was honorable Daniel in gali a dongho who is the second general of the
36:30 - 37:00 network for ties for a decentralization and those living abroad he was talking there after a an audience granted them by the minister of communication and before that there were the presidency the Prime Minister's office the Ministry of External Relations and so many other ministries that directly concerned with making the dice for the communion dice for a work well on the panel today all
37:00 - 37:30 these four dice fora they have lived and studied abroad le Elias Eugene the doctor Elvis and doctor and mr. henshawe the four of you have lived there we means you a square pegs in the square holes as far as this topic is concerned let me take first the example of dr. Elvis and what work yes yes your example is glaring because you had a job over there
37:30 - 38:00 a good one live there and you decided to come back experience my experience is this he successfully pavia the head of state is a man of great vision that's why there's no doubt he's still the captain of the Cameroon ship he is seen and he knows the value of the Diaspora well you can see that most of his
38:00 - 38:30 efforts recently have been to bring in the jaspera because he knows the surf theory of the Despero himself of course was one city aspirin so I experienced what my experience my experience is that the head of state has called us home and has brought us together what were you doing there oh yeah prior to that I would have said ok I got a new I got a life I'm in the diaspora I'm in England I got
38:30 - 39:00 a good job in the army and this is my life but I could see the vision of the head of state who is bringing forth this idea of us all coming together and build our nation that core itself is great that's why with that it gives me hope that I'm not alone together if I leave what I'm doing abroad and I come back and I do it here it will give
39:00 - 39:30 leverage for the development of our nation in the small way but if we all do it together as you see my brothers it goes a long way of course there's already development here we only coming to help as well to flush ahead doctor let me ask you this question do you think it was easy for you because you are leaving one good job to another guys for a to another good job in camera when you look at when when I go by that
39:30 - 40:00 perspective I feel it is a something as if I'm being forced I don't want to look at it that way I want to look at it as if our nation deserves better and our Father the father of the nation has given us that opportunity to make a nation that is great greater and this is the time that the Diaspora has to also put in Chipping their own contribution
40:00 - 40:30 to move the nation forward okay we're going to go into the nitty gritties of the topic to see how the dysphoric and help the country move forward but before we get there I'm going to take a round of the table mr. Henshaw Arak Eric you lived abroad for long studied abroad and what were your experiences were mixed experiences why because I began I walk in with the united nations international community I've been up for one day now
40:30 - 41:00 at Tanzania the ice was not only Europe or America but you were that way also yes so I walked there I had all the opportunities to be a good in another international organization but I had to come back to serve my country and prior to that add on that taking online courses 22 being all the continents in the world to inhabit one in year Queensland to where her to micro masters the rest of Hong Kong ratio of
41:00 - 41:30 Pennsylvania dress of Georgetown Reserve London Geneva you name the rest and this has also admitted me to publish four books in the u.s. in Germany and to be talking more about the experience you lived there you came back Wow widen to ste you decided to come back yeah as I was saying that I came back because I know that president popiah counts a lot on youth and the youth are the people are going to have this country in the future yes always be
41:30 - 42:00 saying this in a speech that youth people were he once walk with them and more to that during the recent appointments of the surgeon area as we saw many use in like a second general and the minister of basic education style you know you saw them sector genera at the ministry of public contracts channel said aku who is also you do some who are in their forties so the that's why I came back because I know that the futurism come on their futures in Africa
42:00 - 42:30 well maybe your own appointment is coming my situation is perhaps quite unique in that I I went abroad for studies after building already a career in Cameroon in the media but what was interesting is that I also felt that my career prospects were better off in Africa then I studied international development it's only Africa and the
42:30 - 43:00 rest of the developing world where the opportunities to into to put to use some of the knowledge is available and it's been a good decision in part because the realization is that the solutions for for Africa have historically been designed crafted abroad and tried to be implemented on the continent and we've seen how they have failed the World Bank
43:00 - 43:30 for example almost works only at hoc basis when it comes to development in Africa they try new initiatives that fail they take up new ones they fail and that's been because the African people have not been involved in that process it's my view that international development can only work and development as as an indication of progress can only work if Africans are
43:30 - 44:00 driving it may I also ask you did you not come back because you had a feature you had something better no I had a very I had a very moral reason for coming back I was given a PhD I would have stayed there and done that PhD I said no I'm going to come back for the PhD better have to go back to Africa work for a couple of years and come back so I had an opportunity as well okay Elias yes well mine was my left the hill out when
44:00 - 44:30 I lived the hell out that I went to Germany for greener pastures us thoughts all out there was just to Lucy I found myself is where I had language barrier in Germany and I find myself doing that manual jobs and and I had divided attention it's not easy separating with your family leave your family here you are out there too just filled uncleanness oh my god this is how I'm going to continue and I took my decision
44:30 - 45:00 to come back home I knew or gonna make it back home welcome back we are going to will continue continue with you what contribution before we get to that what is making some of our Cameroonian competitors staying there when some of them even have the opportunity to come and have good jobs like doctor did like Eugene did like and she also did and
45:00 - 45:30 like you also did what is holding our country men and women over there and making them stay instead of coming back on decision wild they decide to stay stay back open long ago things of that nature making it and you can feel the impacts of what they are doing not it is
45:30 - 46:00 true that others out there who are feeling yet they don't accept that they are failing to return return home and changes change their situation it is their decision to stay and continue the way they are continuing but sincerely those who are succeeding out there really are contributing and know mostly to the court if you do the amount of remittances sent home on TV pcs because of pressure in an
46:00 - 46:30 in-state state treasury and all that the circulation of money has been very difficult it's just those remittances that the economy is turning in some way look at our secondhand second-hand goods market what the commonly called a broken it doesn't need life access to some of those durable products easy for
46:30 - 47:00 Cameroonians so I think they are very contributing in boosting the economy in that direction yes and I allowed you to speak because you are the publisher of the economic outlook Iko Iko I look and I allow you to talk about a corneal Eugene what makes some of our brothers and sisters feel reluctant or even feel repulsive coming back oh no I think you you must not mistake the fact that some
47:00 - 47:30 people have chosen to come back with the idea that it's an easy decision to take there are a number of structural problems that need to believe that and I think that our approach has been to look at the diaspora and see how we can accommodate the Diaspora rather than fixing the local and make it attractive because its attractiveness that determines how people migrate and as we have very good examples what the country like Ghana did was to make Ghana
47:30 - 48:00 attractive for the Diaspora and a lot a lot a lot of Ghanaian diaspora including the African Diaspora are returning to Garnica a very good point what do you mean by attracting the many things you can do the you know I mean that environment involves a lot of things but good examples would be for example making it easy for people to bring in money you would in spite of what the Lama says you will be surprised that
48:00 - 48:30 it's actually quite difficult to bring money into some African countries I remember the a couple of banks that made very interest thing moves opened branches in London in Asia where the diaspora could deposit money and we and that account is have accessible from Nigeria for example from act from Ghana for example and this was really resolving the problem of people being able to move certain amounts of
48:30 - 49:00 cash from the Diaspora onto the continent and it's still a very big problem in the second thing is that there's no structure or most of the money that's coming from the Diaspora is going into into family investment it's paying for education aid that's good but we don't yet see a lot of that for our morning going into huge investments there's possibility for us to make the business environment attractive enough for people to come into this country with backs of money and put into sectors
49:00 - 49:30 and Eugene will stay with you don't you think that they block the blocks put in the way of bringing money because it is reported repeatedly um that some of the money come to sponsor illegal transactions movement in the country sometimes your eyes to evil you wouldn't see righteousness there's no there's no way you're going to you're going to come out of you're going to use one excuse
49:30 - 50:00 and deprive the economy of badly needed resources we have systems in place to be able to track money it people have been talking about wise our where we so still such a monetary cash based economy the government itself does business in cash if we had evolved where you can trace money track money get to where it's coming we solve those problems it's really because we don't have the an instructor to accommodate these changes
50:00 - 50:30 that are needed Eugene I guess who is in North Carolina is on the line is Professor Victor Amba he's going to tell us the potential they did the potential of the dice for our in terms of technology in terms of other things that can make the country go forward prof good morning good day and welcome to
50:30 - 51:00 press ah well it's my honor to be a paranoid on Sierra's TV press hour again I've always been privileged to be a part of your show this is a wonderful show and I want to congratulate your entire team they are press our for the great job you are doing well the Cameroonian diaspora is very very strong we we have
51:00 - 51:30 a lot of people that are very highly educated and not just here in the United States but throughout many countries around the world even included countries in south africa such as south africa there's a larger Camarena diaspora that have all kinds of degrees you can think about from bachelors all the way to PhDs and by the way I'm not yet to talk about just the very educated or formerly look at that dance porins there are Cameron
51:30 - 52:00 Adele speranza may not have any formal education but they're doing very well in business and that can contribute greatly to our beloved country Cameroon so not just in the area of academia they also in the area of business company and the aspirants can contribute to their countries in major major ways by the way you may not be aware of this they are according to World Bank statistics let's just take the statistics from 2019 last
52:00 - 52:30 year over 500 billion with a B dollars were sent by the aspirants of different countries back to their home countries now I don't have the exact statistic for Cameroon but millions and millions of dollars live from different parts of the world to Cameroon from the Diaspora so that in itself is a huge economic potential to help boost the economy's the economy of Cameroon or all parts of the country
52:30 - 53:00 we are privileged me personally to have a broad and initiative to cameroon call the camera the ICT university that is serving many many Cameroonians i need to get in them and providing employment and cetera which is an initiative i launched also in other developing countries around the world I'm most proud of what we did in Cameroon so my example is an example of how instead of us those of us in the Diaspora to sit and criticize
53:00 - 53:30 Cameroon we can practically contribute to the development of our country my father always tells me to do things for people without expecting any thing back from them I think we should have that attitude every member of the Diaspora to be able to contribute and give back to at the country that indicate that all I had free education in Cameroon went through the government schools I I never went to boarding school so I owe it to my country to pay back unless a professor
53:30 - 54:00 especially in Denver so today I am really honored to contribute back to my great country Cameroon very much prof thank you very much for accepting to contribute to our discussion today from North Carolina in the universities of America yes I really want to thank you too again and I'm thank the entire crew of the great press our TR TV and all the other shows I've had the privilege of
54:00 - 54:30 being a part of this great national station it's always my honor and please feel free to get me in anytime I'll be in Cameroon after Uncle Karuna disappears I plan to be in Cameroon probably by day before the end of September so thank you again and God bless you and god bless our great nation Cameroon thank you again the work of the prof profile professor Victor America
54:30 - 55:00 speaking there live from North Carolina I'll come back to you before we get at least deca who is already here we're actions on this program I'm going to ask you dr. Elvis what can we do to bring back the dice for income oh that's a great question jaspera we have about five million in number last population out of Cameroon five million that's a lot and considering the assets considering them
55:00 - 55:30 being an asset to this country's development part of this country's development it means that we need to create an enabling environment that will facilitate a lot of movement in investment in and and coming back home for good and for sure I can I can state this that the head of state has made this enabling environment a successful one and this is a continuous business
55:30 - 56:00 with him because I would say I wouldn't be here without these facilities in this facilitation that I'm talking about you can see that all the major recruitments around the nation these days you always have the possibility of the Jasper the Diaspora to be to be eligible for applica ply for this job this is wonderful it was not like that in the in the in those days this is the head of state who understands that he has people out of the nation part of this nation and together we'll build it and move it
56:00 - 56:30 forward thank you we have a district already here Elvis what other actions Salmonella eruption do we have what are they saying but expectations and Mary King views but the time we've seen is exaggerating so
56:30 - 57:00 Waters is this dialogue can be a good way other Anglophone crisis if the main actors are invited to the dialogue table where ceasefires going on and Jesus's Cameroon diaspora can be a wasted asset because they have never contributed to peace building and the Camino well see the solution to the crisis is dialogue and the selling of guns and Elvis data
57:00 - 57:30 Gary bar say people must always dialogue to avoid bloody confrontations no matter how long this may drop and we conclude with Al Travis one day open day who says dialogue is very vital in conflict with resolution and the masses are suffering from the government sovereign and government needs implicit is solid delicate in ending papers yeah thank you very much and we'll sticker for giving
57:30 - 58:00 us what the public things about our topic for today we had two topics I'll come back to the panel beginning with you mr. Orrick every pension we are talking about wasted dice for on the one hand they are not contributing enough on the other hand as Eugene said as dr. said we need in an
58:00 - 58:30 enabling exam environment so who is to blame for this the blooms are on both sides our first ad buy aside from the government because the government has not made it possible that they should be dry nationally most of our Jasper answer of they have drawn nationalities secondly those who want to come and establish businesses here in Cameroon they have problems of a lot of taxes and
58:30 - 59:00 is making them not to continue to do the business activities in come on on the other side I want to blame the Jasper ones because we have seen through this crisis notice that the Jazz programs have been failing more anger more destruction upon these crisis they don't want to give total listening ears and civilians are suffering or to that I want to also call upon the Jasper wants
59:00 - 59:30 to be to be implemented implicated in two issues concerning camera when it comes to positive issues like for example we saw the Jasper Lance who attacked the head of state president papaya when he was in his hotel in France and other parts of Europe that's not a good image when we have problems we have to solve the problems within own kitchens not expose our own people because others are not doing as we are doing and I want to just give his small conclusion that the Diaz Poland
59:30 - 60:00 should be confident that things are changing in Cameroon because you have some of the work in the 10 20 years don't know the reality sitting that carbon is how the last 20 or 30 years ago thank you very much what are we to conclude the program today press which had 11 column B he gala me he is a publisher of the Eco are look you had Eugene Fung Wah expert in media and
60:00 - 60:30 development you had Henschel Oracle a expert peace and Conflict and a doctor dr. Elvis welcome work a political scientist University of Boyer who came all the way just for the program gentlemen I want to thank you very much for being there and it is on that note that we end today's edition of press are the rebroadcasts comes up tomorrow another new program comes up next Sunday stay blessed
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61:30 - 62:00 [Music] a lovely lovely Sunday to all of you who are watching us from the east the West the north the south and whichever part of Cameron you may be in at at this point in time we are saying happy Sunday
62:00 - 62:30 to you and welcome to some time we can we hope your week was great and we are just crowning your week the