The Last Hope

Scene Two [2003]

89 Act Three Scene Two [2003] Yaounde. A big and well decorated conference room. Seated are MINISTER, PROJECT MANAGER, CONSERVATOR and DONOR representatives. Each meeting participant has a large nametag conspicuously displaced on the table in front of him. EU DONOR has just made a point. PROJECT MANAGER: No. That is not true. EU DONOR [Firmly.]: You can find that in black and white in the mid-term review report. PROJECT MANAGER: Well, yes. But you should note that things have changed dramatically since that project review took place. We have been able to prepare management plans for the National Park and two of the Forest Reserves. [Applause.] In regard to the integrity of the National Park, Conservator is here to testify that we have continued to witness an enormous increase in wildlife sightings since last year. Due to reduced poaching. [CONSERVATOR nods agreement.]. We have also started receiving improved and increasing community support and participation. [An applause.] You see, we respond to community demands, providing development needs, such as…. EU DONOR: That is not acceptable! We are not here for that. You can’t continue throwing things at people like that. We are not here to waste our money. We are not Father Christmas. 90 PROJECT MANAGER: You know it is very difficult to work with the local communities, using strict conservation parlance. You have to exploit other forms of dialogue, in order to win their support. EU DONOR: That is not acceptable, I say. We are not here to bargain with the communities. GTZ DONOR: I think we need to show some flexibility in dealing with the project. EU DONOR [Snapping back.]: We have our long-standing set of policies and procedures. You either accept them or leave them. PROJECT MANAGER: All the activities we carry out, sir, are part of our agreement with you. And I find it embarrassing for you to consider them as unapproved. EU DONOR: I repeat, we are not Father Christmas. Silence. GTZ DONOR: I agree with you absolutely. We are not Father Christmas. But my fear is that if we continue to apply such rigid policies, the system that has taken so many years to build might collapse. EU DONOR: Understand my point. And you should note that we have been here for too long. When is the Government going to take over at least some of the project activities? Can you not see that the Government has remained largely invisible and inactive in the Korup Project 91 all this while? MINISTER: I don’t think so. The Government has Conservator to represent her in the project. And, as far as I know, there are many other Government staff seconded to the project. [To MANAGER.] Eh, Manager? [MANAGER, apparently angry with the whole thing, nods agreement.] EU DONOR: Take note that these staff still continue to depend entirely on the project and donor funds to do their job, Mr. Minister. PROJECT MANAGER: How else did you expect us to work together? EU DONOR: The Government should provide funds for the National Park. CONSERVATOR: The Government has a budget for the National Park, Mr. Donor. [EU DONOR turns his face away.] And I use this budget for the Park Service. GTZ DONOR: Well, I think the government needs to put in some more. EU DONOR: That is the point. At the moment, the Government is putting in very little or nothing. And the Park is for the benefit of the Government and its people. MINISTER: Point of correction, sir. The Park is not only for the benefit of this country but also for the benefit of the whole world. And, gentlemen, let us not lose sight of the fact that the Government has yet to fully recover from her 92 economic crisis. [A short pause.] And, besides, there are many priority areas where she puts in her best. EU DONOR: By implication, Korup is not one of those priority areas, right? MINISTER: Far from it. If Korup were not a priority area, there wouldn’t be this steering committee meeting. [A short pause.] In fact, Korup is one of the top three conservation areas in our regional planning. EU DONOR: But I don’t see much of Government in Korup, to convince me. PROJECT MANAGER: I know your argument is based on financial support. Otherwise, I should inform you that the Government seconded staff have proven to be very instrumental in...