Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697720409573.pdf (Cameroon)
REPUBLIC OF CAMEROON REPUBLIQUE DU CAMEROUN Peace – Work – FatherlandPaix – Travail – Patrie -------- -------- NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ASSEMBLEE NATIONALE ------------ --------------- SPEAKER’S CABINET CABINET DU PRESIDENT ------------ 9thLEGISLATIVE PERIOD -------------- LEGISLTIVE YEAR 2014 ---------------- 3rdORDINARY SESSION --------------- OPENING SPEECH BY RT.

HON.
CAVAYE YEGUIE DJIBRIL SPEAKER OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF CAMEROON Yaounde, 12 November2014 1 - Mr President of the Senate; - Mr Vice-Prime Minister, Head of Government; - TheChief Justice of the Supreme Court; - The Procureur General of the Supreme Court; - Your Excellences, Ambassadorsand Representatives of International Organizations; - Honourable Parliamentarians; - Distinguished Members of the Civil Society; - Distinguished Guests in your respective ranks; - Ladies and Gentlemen, Before I proceed, I wish to welcome you into this House of the sovereign people for the third ordinary session of the National Assembly for the Legislative Year 2014.
2 In accordance with the relevant provisions of our Fundamental Law, this session which is opening today will be devoted mainly to the scrutiny and voting of the State budget for the financial year 2015.

The task awaiting the elected representatives whom we are is therefore delicate and difficult but very exalting.
Indeed, to be conversant with the examination and voting the State budget is a duty and great contribution of a Member of Parliament to the development process of our beloved and beautiful country.

This contribution will be greater today given that on the international front, Cameroon has to grapple with the current sluggishness of the world’s economy and, on the 3 national front, with the prevailing insecurity in some areas of the country where it is difficult to carry out economic activities.
The recent drop in the price of a barrel of oil has obviouslytriggered off some apprehensions... What will be its impact on our country’s ambitions?

The question remains.

Mr Prime Minister, Given this completely disturbing context, you will agree with me that the Nation’s Representatives are rightly expecting much from the Government.
While respecting mechanisms and its international commitments, Cameroon equally has to seek endogenous solutions 4 that would enable the country to continue heading towards emergence under the aegis of His Excellency Paul BIYA, President of the Republic, Head of State.

As I already said in a similar circumstance a year ago, the 2015 Finance Law and the budget relating thereto which we shall put at the disposal of the public authorities, must be efficient and above all realistic instruments and tools.
It seems to us that the first challenge to take up in this regard would be to master the new way of generatingand managing public expenditures.

It is noteworthy to recall that this new method is in its third year under the regime dubbed Programme Budget.

5 Though it was initiated in 2013 and started being implemented in 2014,it should not be in any infancy in 2015.

I would not be happy to close this chapter without making mention in particular of PIB, Public Investment Budget.
For some years now, this budget has been under-consumed.

According to certain indicators, in spite of the improvement being noticed now, with the commitments in this domain standing at 89.3%, it should however be deplored that the actual execution rate as at 24 October 2014 was just about 37%.

6 Considered as a growth accelerator, the PIB is equally a lever that enables the State to generate and share wealth through the realization of various types of infrastructure.
There is therefore fear that the prevailing situation could slow down the momentum of our national growth and our strategy to alleviate poverty which is one of the priority commitments taken by the Head of State for this seven-year term of office.

Our wish is that every Cameroonian wherever they are should feel the impact of the growth.
Mr. Prime Minister, It means that it is high time Government initiated a consultation in order to identify the root causes of the 7 canker undermining the execution of the State Budget.

A consultation which would moreover be in line with the one that is on-going on institutional and structural reforms, within the framework of the implementation of the Growth and Employment Strategy Paper.
Honourable Members of the National Assembly and Dear Colleagues, I therefore recommend shrewdness and objectivity during debates on the Budget.

The expected exchanges should not be mere formality, sufficient to justify the excellent relations between the Executive and the Legislative arms.

They must be a framework of frank and sincere dialogue so as to find the best budget likely 8 to satisfy the Cameroonian people, the public authorities as well as bilateral and multilateral partners.
Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, Whoever talks of the budget is alluding to money, the sinewsof war.

Our session is opening when the war against insecurity is continuing at our broders.

The war against the Islamic sect,Boko-Haram in particular, continues to hit the headlines.

I would like for that reason, and on behalf of all Members of the National Assembly, to commend from this rostrum, the bravery of our Defence and Security Forces whose heroic acts are uncountable.
I hereby reiterate the full support of the Nation’s Representatives 9 to these Forces.

I know that they are on the right track and will go right to the end thanks to their professionalism and determination.

I also hail the recent release of hostages, which is certainly the result of concerted action between the authorities, the Defence Forces and the courageous population of the Far North Region.
Lastly, I would like to express our gratitude to the friendly countries and organizations, which have been multiplying gestures of solidarity in support of Cameroon’s efforts.

This is the occasion to call for more solidarity in order to assist the populations at the borders who are 10 alreadybeing threatened by a food crisis.One of the consequences of insecurity in these areas has been the slowdown of agricultural activities.
A joint action of the Government, NGOs and other persons of good will should be envisaged.

Unfortunately, war remains first and foremost war.

Many of our compatriots, for instance our valiant soldiers, have lost their lives in that war.

At this solemn moment, Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, may you rise for a minute of silence in memory of all those who lost their lives in this war.
Ladies and Gentlemen, 11 At the moment we are meeting in this plenary hall, hope is gradually being revived within the Cameroon sportsarena.

After a long period of uncertainty, the Indomitable Lions, males and females, have begun recording victories again, and the lionesses on their part are coming on so strongly to the extent of fascinating everyone.
A new era, the credit of which should be attributed to President PAUL BIYA whose personal commitment, to streamline and revamp Cameroon’s football is proven.

We use this solemn occasion to extend our encouragements and feelings of deep satisfaction to Cameroon’s first sportsman.

Ladies and Gentlemen, 12 The usual practice in such circumstances is that a brief balance sheet of the recess should be drawn.

During the just ended recess, our Chamber singled out itself with a vast array of its diplomacy.
Also, in addition to its participation in the various statutory meetings of inter-parliamentary bodies, the National Assembly had the privilege to host the 60th Conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association in Yaounde from 2 to 10 October 2014.

This very popular event was presided over by His Excellency Paul BIYA, President of the Republic, and Head of State in his capacity as Vice-Patron of the Commonwealth.
The said event undoubtedly came to consolidate the already excellent cooperation ties that exist between the Commonwealth and Cameroon.

13 In the same vein, excellent cooperation ties between Paris and Yaounde were also depicted in the friendly and working visit paid to Cameroon from 26 to 27 October 2014 by the Speaker of the French National Assembly, Mr Claude BARTOLONE.

The said visit being the first of its kind certainly offers new prospects in the Franco- Cameroonian relations.
Finally, the National Assembly of Cameroon has been enriched with two new networks.

The first is the Cameroon branch of Globe International.

Founded in the United Kingdom in 1989, the said organization works alongside the United Nations to reach a global consensus on harmonized climate legislation.

The Cameroon branch of Globe International shall be chaired 14 by our colleague OYONO Martin to whom we say Congratulations!
The second network brings together Parliamentarians around the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

It is a forum for the discussion of economic and monetary policies.

Your humble servant has been designated the Honorary President of the said network while the executive bureau shall be chaired by Hon.

NDOUMOU Pauline to whom we also sayCongratulations!

On this note, I declareopen the proceedingsof the third ordinarysession of the NationalAssembly for the2014legislative year.
15 Long live the National Assembly!

Long live Cameroon!

Thank you.

16