The Southwest Elite Association (SWELA) has condemned the nationalisation of the Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC) which it terms an “Anglophone legacy”, by a decree signed recently by President Paul Biya.

The condemnation is contained in a “final communiqué” issued after an “urgent meeting” of the General Secretariat of the association that held in Kumba on January 25.

Signed by SWELA Secretary General, Joseph Moki Etukeni, the communiquéstates that the resolutions were arrived at: “After frank and in-depth deliberations on current issues affecting the Southwest Region, in particular, and the Anglophones at large.

The communiquéstates: “That the Nationalisation of CDC, just like the National Produce Marketing Board, which collapsed and liberalisation came and left the farmers with mushroom conservative societies without personnel and follow-up. CDC operations like PAMOL are based on the Common Law System. That a decree already signed by the President of the Republic stipulating the implementation of the OHADA Law which, indeed, is an off-shoot of the Civil Law System and the possible movement of the Headquarters to any part of the Country by the General Assembly, leaves SWELA completely opposed to the move.”

The communiqué maintains that: “CDC remains the only legacy to the Southwesterners and Anglophones at large;” and asserts: “SWELA orders that CDC should be left in her OLD STATUS!”

Further condemning all forms of marginalisation of Anglophones and attempts at eradicating their Anglo-Saxon culture, the Anglophone Education System, the Common Law System and so on, the communiqué states: “That we, the Southwest Elite Association and all Anglophones of goodwill vehemently condemn the poor treatment of Patriarch Senator Nfon V.E. Mukete has of recent been receiving from Government for being vocal against Anglophone marginalisation in this Country, especially the cause for genuine Bilingualism. That we solidly stand behind the Respectable Patriarch, and totally adhere to his ideas.”

SWELA laments the non-commencement of construction of the Limbe Deep Seaport and calls on Government to include it in the list of Emergency Projects to boost the realisation of Vision 2035.

SWELA calls on the Government to create the Regional Councils and implement Article 66 of the of the 1996 Constitution on the declaratiuon of assets before assuming any public office.