Country Council Minutes: Yaoundé, Cameroon (October 7)

Country Council

Sub-Saharan Africa - Cameroon
7 Oct 2005

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The following minutes were submitted by the Yaoundé branch of the Cameroon Country Council:

1. Welcome address and presentation by host member.

In his opening remarks, host gave the participants an overview of member's program and facilities.

2. Introduction of the participants.

3. Review of the minutes from the last meeting

4. Agenda review

5. Finalizing version of the minutes

It has been decided that the scribe should send a note of the meeting to the participants one week after the meeting for correction and review.

6. Information from Douala branch

The Douala branch is planning a cocktail party on October 21, 2005 at the residence of PSO Robert Heater. It will be an opportunity to meet with all the police and gendarme officers who will be invited for the cocktail.

The Douala branch discussed the recent crime issues and what to do in case of crisis. 

The group, about 11 members, tried to involve a local company through their new security representative. The Douala group came up with the decision of employers informing guards of personal threats so guards can be aware of potential targeting.

Member noted that there is not enough connection between the two groups. He thinks that they should have an overview of the situations in Douala and Yaoundé, considering the trends in criminal activity, by sharing information.

RSO encourages people to check the OSAC website in order to get information about the two groups. He suggested that incident security report could be sent to him so that he can get it to the two groups.

7. Crime wave

Paul Alobwede said that a pistol was found in a bathroom at CNPS, the National Social Insurance Fund. After investigation, it was found that the pistol belongs to one employee who stated that many of them were given pistols 14 years ago. 

RSO suggested that the OSAC group needs to know the availability of firearms, where to be and at what time to go out. People should exercise caution and remove themselves from these potential situations especially with no adequate response from the police/ gendarmes.   Constituents are encouraged to freely communicate criminal activity impacting their organizations acknowledging that what they send out does not represent the views of their different organizations but it simply information sharing.

Member said that the three governments of Cameroon, CAR and Congo had a meeting and decided to set up security measures to secure the borders of the three countries in response to recent acts of banditry near the borders.

Women are more and more involved in robberies/ assaults in taxis.

There are mobile hawkers of perfume who instead of selling perfume make you inhale ether and they take everything from you after you become faint.

Member reported that there was one incident involving two Americans on vacation in Kribi. Somebody tried to get money from them with a knife in the evening.  Fortunately the perpetrator was arrested.

8. Report of the risk assessment training attended by Member in Nairobi and Ouagadougou.

What do we do if …

What are the major risks that my organization is facing?  Having a meeting with individuals, people will give their points of view based on their experience with different factors such as car jack, national disaster, civil unrest etc…

Impact value:If it happens, how is it going to affect my organization? 

Crisis impact value: What are the most likely to happen and can have impact on my organization. 

Risk diagram Example: If the president dies, there will be civil unrest.

Drill for the civil unrest that might be coming.

At certain times, what is going to happen, what will you need and how long is it going to take?

Suggestion: Member suggested that the group should think about training to strengthen the security among all its members.

9. Date and venue of the next meeting

Date: December 2, 2005

Venue: BAT

Time: 11AM

At the end of the meeting, Host took all the participants around the compound followed by refreshments.