 2nd - May - 2003
The Minister of Transport launches the Limbe Shipyard Construction Project in the seaside town of Limbe
The Construction of Infrastructure for the Repair of Oil Rigs at Limbe otherwise known as the Limbe Shipyard Project was officially launched at the beautiful seaside town of Limbe by the Minister of Transport on May 2nd 2003, in the presence of the representatives of the following funding institutions.
1- The African Development Bank (Afdb)
2- The Islamic Development Bank (IDB)
3- The ORET Fund
4- BDEAC (The Development Bank of BEAC)
By 10.00 AM, the Limbe population had assembled at the venue with over 10 traditional dance groups awaiting for the Minister's arrival. The Minister of Transport John B. NDEH accompanied by the General Manager of CNIC, leaders of bank Delegations and other top administrative and traditional authorities of the Limbe locality arrived the launching venue ground at exactly 11 00 AM.
On hand to welcome the Minister and his delegation was the Government Delegate to the Limbe Urban Council. He promised the support of the local people to see this project a success. He highlighted measures already taken to facilitate operations around the project by the Limbe administrative authorities.
The traditional authorities of this locality took this occasion to table their expectations of the project. In an address from the joined council of South West traditional rulers to delegates, they reminded the government of their commitment to see the project succeed. As proof of this, they sited the alternatives forgone which included: - housing and farm land - graves of their aged ancestors - and above all their fishing culture, all these to provide space for the new shipyard. They called on government to quickly implement the long awaited resettlement scheme of displaced citizens by payment of resettlement dues and providing other social facilities.
The leader of the finance team was next speaker. Touched by the address of the traditional authorities, he reminded delegates of the importance attached by finance bankers to social effects of such projects on displaced communities. He assured the villagers special considerations have been taken to ensure the proper resettlement of displaced citizens. He introduced his team and the loan package of each to the project. He assured the population of Limbe and administrative authorities of their total support for the project by providing the required funds promising their return in November 2003 for the laying of the foundation stone.
The General Manager of CNIC, Z. M. FORJINDAM took the floor next, briefly introduced his company and moved straight on to give a background of the project. Not to over emphasize Limbe's pride to be chosen amongst other ports in Cameroon to be site for such a magnitude of a project, he called on its citizens to count themselves lucky for they are about to harbor the biggest of such facility in Sub Saharan Africa. He outlined the fallbacks of the project to the locality in particular and the country in General. Followed by thunderous applause he assured displaced citizens of the payment of their resettlement dues in 2 weeks unfailingly explaining reasons for the delay. He pledged the support of the Government to ensure follow up to proper resettlement and guaranteed social amenities to them. Read speech.
Last to speak was the Hon. Minister of Transport to launch the project. He first of all assured delegates of Government's commitment to see this project through, outlining its importance to the ports reform sector of Cameroon. The Minister on behalf of the Cameroon Government thanked the financial organizations for their continuous support to Cameroon and promised governments support to see the project through as stipulated by its calendar of execution. He outlined some measures already taken by the government to assure transparency in its execution. The project was officially launched at about 1.30 PM. The occasion ended with a dinner offered by the Minister of Transport at the S.O.N.A.R.A club. Ceremony ended at 4 00 PM with departure of the Minister for Douala. Read speech.
A Seminar on Financiers’ Procedures was held from 3rd to 6th May 2003. The IDB and Afdb delegations took turns to brief the CNIC project team and concerned officers on their various procurement and disbursement procedures. |
