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Showing posts from September, 2011

La plus belle histoire ... la notre

Il y en a qui pense que la paix dont nous jouissons vient d'un programme assaisonnée à la sauce RDPC. Je dis non. Nous sommes un peuple intelligent, nous sommes un peuple qui aime notre patrie, nous sommes un peuple solidaire et fière de notre passé, un passé conquis avec le sang des nos plus grand patriotes. Ce ne sont pas les arguments pour nous entretuer qui manquent, baisse des salaires, népotisme, corruption, pauvreté, manque de routes, manques d'infrastructures scolaires et hygiénique, le chômage, etc. Nous aurons pu crier le ras de bol aux énormes dépenses d'un chef d'état complètement détaché de la réalité et de son peuple, d'un pays si pauvre mais qui se permet de voter une dépense de CFA 2,5 millions par jour pour le carburant d'un « haut » fonctionnaire de l'état comme le secrétaire d'état a la présidence de la république. Non, non et non, Paul Biya n'aime pas le Cameroun. Comment peut-on avoir, dans un pays qui compte à peine 20 mill

Dear Barthelemy Biya Bi Mvondo, you have my vote if...

After 29 years, I feel I know so much that I can call you Barthelemy or why not Bartho. Paul seems so distant and formal. Here we go again, another election. They seem to be so many and come so quickly when you've been doing them for 29 years, right? Even a seven-year term seems to go by so fast and the need to stay just lingers like bitter cream. At this point of our history when we have to chose between you and other candidates, who can take our country to the next level, I feel a little betrayed by your presence. I thought you were a gentleman who would understand that after 29 years, even the most tolerant supporter must harbor some love-fatigue. I believe you have not steered the country well, and I seem to be one of the few who think so. Do you remember when about 7 years ago we agreed that by this time you will be our country's retired President? How disappointing that you let the Circle talk you into this again. I tried in vain to beg the Cardinal to step in and kick y

The glitchy voter registration

It was on a Monday morning, August 29 that I took my cousin, 21, to the embassy of the Republic of Cameroon to register to vote. I also had my wife's passport and other credentials in case I could register her in absentia. When we got to the embassy, it was closed that day and the next day, Tuesday August 30. Ramadan. On Wednesday morning, we repeated the exercise. This time, I will pick up my aunt from the nearest metro station to the embassy (she attends Georgetown University) and all three of us will register to vote. Accompanying us were two of my children, 3 and 1. When we got to the embassy, we were greeted by a long line of people who had come for various purposes. Originally, I thought they were there to register to vote like I was. As is the proclivity with things done "a la camerounaise", people who knew people who knew people who worked in the embassy were fished from the line and given red-carpet treatment while the rest of us sons of peasants waited in line.