CAMAIR-CO, Road Safety Preoccupy MPs

Emmanuel Kendemeh

26 June 2011

The Minister of State, Minister of Transport, Bello Bouba Maigari was the lone member of government who took questions from parliamentarians in the National Assembly during the question time plenary sitting on June 24 on burning issues in the transport sector.

House Speaker Hon. Cavaye Yeguie Djibril presided at the sitting in the presence of the Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Relations with the Assemblies, Gregoire Owona.

CAMAIR-CO Functioning

Hon. Roger Nkodo Dang set the ball rolling as he questioned the Minister of State on why CAMAIR-CO planes were flying to neighbouring countries, the whereabouts of the company’s general manager, conflict between the general manager and his deputy, why senior government officials do not board CAMAIR-CO planes when going on missions broad and whether the airlines company was not doomed to die. Bello Bouba Maigari said CAMAIR-CO took off only last March 28, stating that three months were not enough to draw conclusions on the airlines company. He said air transport was a difficult enterprise but said the Head of State re-created the national airlines company and prepared all conditions to make it viable, solid, beneficial and competitive. The Minister of State refuted allegations of conflict in the managing team of CAMAIR-CO, saying that he very often receive its General Manager and his deputy either collectively or individually.

As to the whereabouts of the airline company’s General Manager, Bello Bouba Maigari said he has not disappeared but given permission by the company’s board to attend to some family matters, revealing that he comes back very often and works with the Deputy General Manager to whom he delegated some powers. The company, he said started off with two planes instead of the three initially envisaged. At moment, he said, the company has three planes and flights to West, Central and East African countries will soon be programmed. The board of CAMAIR-CO and supervisory ministry were working together to tackle any problems in the company.

Road Safety

Hon. Banadzem Joseph questioned the Transport Minister on the salary of the General Manager of CAMAIR-CO, measures taken to regulate the commercial motorcycle transportation sector and tackle accidents. Bello Bouba Maigari said the board of CAMAIR-CO fixes salaries and is well placed to talk on that aspect. With regard to road safety measures to curb accidents, he said an emergency plan of action has already been validated and approved. Government, he said, has reformed the driving licence acquisition process, its documents secured and computerised to curb fraud. He said government was working with local authorities to regulate the commercial motorcycle sector

The Minister of State for Transport also answered Hon. Nga Koumda Jean-Marie’s questions on CAMSHIP and modernisation of tollgates. He also cited efforts to modernise and make CAMRAIL more functional and efficient through rehabilitation of railway lines, acquisition of new wagons.

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