Local Councils : Growing Demand For Better Services

The advent of the Public Independent Conciliator (PIC), as a go-between users and officials of Councils, has increased awareness among the populations on the rights and obligations of everyone. Existing for about three years now, the PIC has made indelible marks as to the way and manner services ought to be rendered for a better community. One of the areas still under criticism is the issue of birth certificates, which authorities say must be free. To clarify the point, the PIC has been on its heels to ensure the laws are respected. Also, many of the Councils still enjoy services and supplies but drag their feet to pay the bills. It is unacceptable for the economy and the providers as all services and supplies duly executed should be paid for, the PIC has emphasised. In a recent outing in Buea, South West Region, the PIC condemned the fact that some councils still hold users to pay for birth certificates under the pretext that papers are short in supply. Worse still, many clients are lamenting in the corridors of Council offices for non-payment of bills.  

 Madam Public Independent Conciliator (PIC) for the South West Region, you are at the helm of this office for some years now, what is your own assessment of your activities?
 I have been in this office for about three years. Since inception and my taking possession of the activities conferred on us, we have been able to do a lot. First, we started our work liaising with the churches, the civil society organisations, the youth leaders, the stake holders who are our direct collaborators and the President of the South West Regional Assembly and his team. I want to say that we have been on the ground holding series of meetings to sensitise the public on our role and relationships. We had meetings with the administrative, religious and council authorities, and then we went down to the field. In one of the meetings, I brought in the civil status registration organ, BUNEC, to clear the air on some complaints from people decrying the fact that money is being asked for the issuance of Birth Certificates which by law is supposed to be free. The PIC is not out there to pinpoint just the council's duties to the municipalities and their areas of jurisdiction. We explained clearly that while the councils have obligations to the population, the population, too, has duties to perform towards the councils. 

Are you saying that your missions and messages have reached all the six Administrative Divisions and the 34 councils of the South West Region?
 To a greater extent, we have even brought the 34 councils together on three occasions, twice in Limbe and once in Kumba. We have touched all the six Administrative Divisions of the South West Region. We have 34 councils to work with in the Region, 31 local councils, 2 city councils of Kumba and Limbe and one Regional Assembly in Buea.

In trying to get your role known to the public and to the councils, what have been the main difficulties you may have encountered? 
I want to say that my role is to ensure that there is social justice in the treatment of citizens who go to the Councils to seek services. We have to know that the councils are the owners of the town, they issue building permits, they control the markets, they give door numbers to taxis, they control the bike riders, and they co...