The regional supervisory committee evaluated projects on January 16.

Seventy two days to the very last day set to finish all projects in preparation for the up-coming 50th anniversary celebration of Cameroon's reunification, the regional preparatory commission, headed by Governor Bernard Okalia Bilai, has expressed worries over the slow pace of execution of work for the event by some contractors with some road projects still to be started. The committee met on January 16.

During the assessment, the City Cleaning Company (HYSACAM) and the electricity supply company were alerted to quickly take their services to the new roads that shall have been created in the Buea City. No specific site had been chosen in which to build the reunification monument. The various Senior Divisional Officers scantily reported their preparations insisting that bad roads would be a major impediment in transporting their various quotas of persons to Buea.

Among worrisome projects, the Governor cited the renovation of the Parliamentarian Flats. To mark his dissatisfaction, the Governor urged the Regional Delegate of Tourism and Leisure to track down and bring to him in the next seven days the contractor whom he said was nowhere to be found. Report of works on the Flats, begun over eight months ago, however, put execution rate at 50 - 55 percent.

Another project giving nightmares to the commission was identified to be the Mile Four-Sasse-Buea road under renovation.

Recommendations

The local supervisory commission recommended that henceforth clean-up campaigns be carried out weekly in Tiko (gateway to the South West), in Limbe (with numerous and choicest hotels), and notably in Buea (place of the event). Although some 12 road projects have been earmarked to be opened, renovated or tarred in Buea for the reunification event, much fear is still animating the minds of the Regional commission as to their effective finishing before the deadline of 31 March assigned by the Joint Ministerial mission that visited the various projects last 9 and 10 January.

The communication sub-committee expressed the need for giant screens to project the ceremonies of the reunification event and talked of a press centre to host journalists The Committee took time to identify the various spaces allotted for parking. Such include the Penitentiary Administration School area, the P and T School, Camp Hysacam, Esplanade of GMI, Presidential residence esplanade, Governor's residence area, the Vocational Training School, New Buea Council yard and the Public Works School field. It was hoped that by March ending, these lots shall have been properly prepared for the parking of the thousands of vehicles that Buea shall receive.