CMR to host Commonwealth Conference

Cameroon is to host almost 625 delegates from 161 Commonwealth branches from October 2-10, 2014.

With less than two weeks to the commencement of the 60th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, CPA Conference in Yaounde from October 2-10, 2014, assurances have been given on Cameroon’s readiness for the event.

Speaking at the National Assembly in Yaounde on Friday, September 19, 2014, during a seminar organised for stakeholders, Hon. Emilia Monjowa Lifaka, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly and Chair of the CPA Organising Committee, said all was set for the conference.

“We are ready, even if the conference were to held in three days. We are only putting finishing touches to preparations. The Head of State put everything at our disposal early enough to prepare for the conference, and we did just that,” Hon. Lifaka disclosed. She said the event was so important to Cameroon because President Paul Biya is the patron.

Moreover, the conference will receive people from different cultural backgrounds from different parts of the world. She disclosed that almost 625 delegates from 161 of the 175 branches of the Commonwealth have confirmed their participation. In addition, 33 Speakers of National Parliaments and 45 Speakers of Regional Parliaments will attend.

As part of the preparations, the Commonwealth Secretariat in London has sent an official to work with the Local Organising Committee on the last details.

Six hotels in Yaounde have been selected to lodge delegates while others are on standby in case more people turn up, explained Hon. Datouo Theodore, Deputy Speaker of Parliament, who stood in for the Speaker, Cavaye Yeguie Djibril.

He said despite earlier concerns by some Western embassies, the Ministry of Public Health has assured the Commonwealth Secretariat that there is no case of Ebola Virus in the country. Moreover, measures have been taken at border posts, airports and seaports to guard against any Ebola spread.