Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697719661152.pdf (Cameroon)
REPUBLIC OF CAMEROON REPUBLIQUE DU CAMEROUN Peace – Work – Fatherland Paix – Travail – Patrie --------- ---------- NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ASSEMBLEE NATIONALE ------------ ---------- SPEAKER’S OFFICE CABINET DU PRESIDENT 9TH LEGISLATIVE PERIOD 9ème LEGISLATURE LEGISLATIVE YEAR 2017 ANNEE LEGISLATIVE 2017 - 3RD ORDINARY SESSION 3ème SESSION ORDINAIRE (November 2017) (Novembre 2016) --------------- -------------- CLOSING SPEECH BY THE RT HON.
CAVAYE YEGUIE DJIBRIL SPEAKER OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY Yaounde, 13 December 2017 1 - Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, Death has struck the National Assembly again.

Mr Victor YENE OSSOMBA, Secretary General of our Institution, who we were preparing to evacuate to Europe for health reasons, died last night as result of an illness at the Yaounde General Hospital where he was hospitalized a few days ago.
It is therefore with shock that I take the floor to extend to the entire elected representatives with whom he was a key collaborator, to the entire staff which he led as family head, my sincere condolences and my deep sympathy.

May you rise so that we pay tribute to the deceased in a minute of silence.
SILENCE 2 - Mr President of the Senate; - Mr Prime Minister, Head of Government; - The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court; - The Attorney General of the Supreme Court; - Members of Government; - Your Excellencies, Ambassadors and Representatives of International Organizations; - Honourable Members of the National Assembly and Dear Colleagues; - Distinguished Members of the Civil Society; - Ladies and Gentlemen; The 3rd ordinary session of the National Assembly for the 2017 legislative year is now winding up after thirty days of serious work.
In spite of the fire outbreak that ravaged part of our installations at the beginning of this session and in spite of the 3 cases of tension that were noticed during our proceedings, I still wish to commend the results that we have achieved.

Pending enactment by the President of the Republic, we, legislators, have just enriched the national legal arsenal with six new laws including the important finance law for the 2018 financial year.
Our parliamentary networks were equally busy on the sidelines of our deliberations.

The Parliamentary Network on Gender Promotion organized a brainstorming workshop on child marriage and women’s access to landed property on 6 December 2017.

The Network of Parliamentarians for the Sustainable Management of Forest Ecosystems of Central Africa (REPAR), on its part, organized an experience-sharing forum with Government on land management matters in Africa.
Lastly, the Network on Population and Development, AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria equally held a one-day meeting on 29 November 2017 to raise MPs’ awareness on the fight against maternal, neonatal, infant and child mortality.

4 I cannot forget the installation two days ago, of the National Assembly Committee charged with the follow-up and evaluation of public policies in the domain of social housing.
We cannot equally forget to mention the launch yesterday 12 December 2017 in this House Chamber, of the activities of the Parliamentary Network for Renewable Energies and those of the Anti-corruption Network.

Your Excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen, By your leave, I would like to dwell a bit on the 2018 Finance Law.
With an increase of 139 billion 700 million CFA francs compared with the previous financial year, the 2018 Finance Law, which balances off in revenue and expenditure, clearly shows Government’s determination to continue stimulating robust growth in Cameroon.

It will not, however, be superfluous to reiterate that the execution of the said budget will, to say the least, not be easy on account of the prevailing circumstances at the national and international levels.
In fact, besides world economic uncertainties, the need for Cameroon to honour its international commitments with its principal donors and the preparation for political and sporting 5 events including the 2019 AFCON, security matters in particular constitute a strange factor that should not be ruled out in 2018.

While the current security crisis in the northern region is dwindling gradually, that in the North West and South West Regions is still remains a concern.
At a time when Cameroon has resolutely embarked on the path to emergence and the country is also preparing to begin another crucial phase of its history with the awaited elections, no manoeuvre to thwart the resolve to meet these dual aspirations will be tolerated.

I am wont to also think that there is a pressing need to identify any threat from within or without to enable us to begin 2018 with serenity.
In this regard, I am pleased with the firm determination of the President of the Republic, Commander-in- Chief of the Armed Forces, to combat the band of terrorists who, for some time now, have, in the name of pseudo secession, been wrecking havoc in the North West and South West Regions.
His Excellency PAUL BIYA declared promptly last November 30th and I quote: “All the necessary measures are being taken to neutralise these criminals and make sure that there is peace and security in the entire the national territory”, unquote.
In the same vein, I wish to express the satisfaction of the Nation’s representatives with the security measures 6 incorporated in the economic, financial, social and cultural programme of Cameroon as enunciated by the Prime Minister, Head of Government, on 29 November 2017.

Hence, in the light of the prevailing circumstances that we have all deplored here, it is necessary to continue and even intensify measures to enhance the operational capacity of our defence and security forces.
No security measure would be considered superfluous in this light as long as it seeks to restore total peace in Cameroon; protect persons and their properties, the territorial integrity of Cameroon and State symbols.

Until it is proven otherwise, Cameroon is an indivisible, unitary, decentralised and democratic State governed by the rule of law.
It is hoped that the 2018 State budget will be executed within that dispensation in peace, unity and serenity across the nationwide for the greatest benefit of our people.

Honourable Members of the National Assembly, Dear colleagues, To round off my speech, I would like to address you in particular.

Conscious of our responsibilities before the sovereign people, we have just put at the disposal of the executive an important instrument, notably, the 2018 Finance Law.
It is a truism to say that the prior execution of this law is incumbent 7 on the Government.

However, I remain convinced that our support as Parliamentarians will be more than necessary.

Our role is not only to control Government action, it is also necessary that each one of us should at his or her own level work for an effective and beneficial implementation of this action.

I therefore appeal to our sense of patriotism.


We have expressed ourselves extensively and freely throughout these 30 days of the session.

This is proof of the vitality of democracy in our country.

It is therefore time to concretise our decisions.

It is time for us to put hands on deck so that in 2018, we continue the process of building our country Cameroon which belongs to all of us.
May we continue making individual efforts as well as giving our collective support to public authorities to improve the daily lives of Cameroonians.

It is not through heckling and clashes, let alone through the blowing of whistles and vuvuzela that we will do it.

It is in the dignity that depicts Honourable Members of the National Assembly that we are, all convinced of our role as the People’s Representatives, parents, concerned about the future and the evolution of our offspring.
Let's get rid of fanciful ambitions, like that of a possible secession.

Let's face our own realities and the challenges 8 confronting the nation.

I know that partisan spirit often dominates us.

However, I wish that wisdom should prevail.

Your Excellencies, Dear colleagues, Ladies and gentlemen, I would now like to use this opportunity to wish you very happy end-of-year feasts, and also present to you all in advance my best wishes for 2018.
I declare closed, the proceedings of the 3rd ordinary session of this House for the 2017 legislative year.

Long live the National Assembly, Long live Cameroon and its illustrious leader, His Excellency Paul BIYA, President of the Republic, Head of State, Commander-in-chief of Armed Forces Thank you!

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