2003 Minister Frederic Kodock: Royalties should be paid to the Bakweri
In 2003, the Minister of State for External Relations sought the Expert Opinion of the Minister of State for Agriculture Honorable Frederic Augustin Kodock (currently Minister of State for Planning and Regional Development), specifically about the BLCC’s demand for royalties for indigenous Fako lands under the control of the CDC. As Minister of Agriculture, the Honorable Kodock had supervisory authority over the CDC and had a solid mastery of the CDC/BLCC file.
The Minister of State was unequivocal in his opinion that if was Cameroon indeed governed by the rule of law, the State of Cameroon should apply “what seems to be a universally acceptable principle – the PRINCIPLE OF DERIVATION whereby ROYALTIES are negotiated and paid in CASH and/or KIND to the Bakweri People over the CDC occupied lands.”
Unfortunately, Hon. Kodock's independent collaborative expert opinion, like that of the Ayissi Commission appointed that same year by the Hon Minister of State in charge of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation (both of which reached the highest echelons of Government), was spitefully ignored.
The BLCC is making public a copy of the Honorable Kodock’s original expert opinion (with seal and signature) which was faxed to BLCC-USA officials by concerned patriots at the Ministry of External Relations who were greatly disturbed by the continued injustice against the Bakweri.
