SAY SOMETHING, Mr. MINISTER (Part 1 of 2)

SAY SOMETHING, Mr. MINISTER (Part 1 of 2) Cameroon’s water and energy sector is in poor shape. This is not to say that other sectors of the country are in robust health. The point is that water and energy are highlighted because they are basic amenities for everyday use. So if they are in short supply, there is a serious problem that has to be dealt with or at least seen to be dealt with. Understandably, one understands that there is a twist in the knife when it is considered that the problem of water and electricity supply in Cameroon of today has escalated by geometric progression. So, only too frequently users are deprived of supplies continuously for days. When such protracted cuts subside and there is some steady flow, it is short-lived because soon, consumers are rocked yet again by intermittent interruptions. So, it is like some vicious cycle. In the midst of all this, one wonders what the minister of water resources and energy is doing about it. Obviously, sitting in his office and signing papers and being addressed as “Excellence” and “Monsieur le Ministre” as our ministers are used to doing. However if there is any minister who at this point in time needs to be up and about, visible, vocal, concerned, appealing, soothing and comforting because of the far reaching damage that his sector of activity done to Cameroonians – mainly without any compensation – it should be this minister. The current holder of the portfolio is Dr. Basile Kouna Atangana, who prior to his appointment was General Manager of Cameroon’s leading Water State Corporation. So, logically, one would think that coming from such a relevant background, he should know better. Wrong, because he is not much seen or heard. At least, not often enough. Even so, this is hardly surprising because the name plaque on the second main ministerial building of his ministry in Yaounde carries a grammatical error that anyone who reads it cannot help wondering why it was not detected and corrected from Day One. The piece of writing reads: “Ministry of ‘Waterresources’ (spelt as one word) ‘andenergy’ (also spelt as one word)”. Yet it is all written in bold capital letters. There is a lot that the minister can do – if he wants to - so that the people are assured that not only does he knowS their plight, but he sympathizes with them. ______________________________________________________________________________ FOR PART 2 AND FINAL PART OF THIS STORY, PLEASE, FOLLOW THE LINK BELOW TO THE APPRPRIATE PAGE OF MY BLOG http://tmazonga.blogspot.com/2013/12/say-something-mr-minister-part-2-of-2.html?showComment=1387309498265#c6688883963058207010