Peter Efande
22 May 2011
The turn out was impressive as hundreds answered present at the Manga Williams Avenue in Limbe to give the 39th edition of the National Day the grandeur it deserves. The kick-off was given at exactly 10 am with the arrival of the Senior Divisional Officer for Fako, Mr. Bona Ebengue Francois. After the singing of the national anthem, 37 medals were awarded to deserving Cameroonians.
Reflecting this year’s theme, “Cameroonian military: the crucible of national unity, bedrock of stable institutions and democracy, guarantor of socio-economic development,” the military took centre-stage and set the ball rolling in a march past that lasted more than three hours. Animated by the Limbe Municipal Band and the Government High School Band, Limbe respectively, the Rapid Intervention Batallion, BIR, received sustained applause as they marched past.
After the military, the civilian march past followed with hundreds of pupils and students from institutions in and around Limbe who defied the downpour and marched in an orderly manner. The messages on their placards were full of meaning: ” ‘Beware of cholera, it kills and very fast’, ‘Wash your hands with soap. It saves lives,’ ‘We thank President Biya for free cholera treatment,’ ‘At 50 years of reunification, we remain a united, strong and stable country,’ ‘Youths, together let us fight climate change and embark on tree planting,’ ‘Youths beware, despite the availability of anti-retroviral, HIV/AIDS kills,’ ‘Quality bilingualism; a window to professionalism,’ ‘We, the youths must continue to cultivate our most cherished culture of peace,’ ‘Youths of voting age, you have the right to register and vote wisely’…”
Besides educational institutions, nurses, hotel staff, choir groups, the Limbe Handicapped Association, Fan Club Eto’o Fils, the Victoria Karate Club and staff of the Women’s Empowerment Centre, Limbe made their presence felt. Legalised political parties came out in numbers. The UPK participated for the first time while the UNDP, the SDF and PAP were not left out. But the most remarkable was the CPDM Fako I Section that came out in teeming numbers with messages praising the Party Chairman, President Paul Biya for his lofty achievements.
At the end, a visibly impressed Ebengue Francois did not fail to express satisfaction with the day’s events that were crowned by a reception and a football match between the CDC Veterans and the Limbe City Council. Prior to Friday’s celebrations, there was a special clean-up campaign on Wednesday May 18, a grand unity march and a torch light procession on Thursday, May 19.
AllAfrica – All the Time
Excerpt from:
Memorable 20th May Celebrations in Limbe