President Paul Biya, who left the country on August 15 for a private 
trip to Europe, will be footing a bill of about FCFA 700 million for lodging in a luxurious French Hotel. According to statistics by French media outfits, including the prestigious France Inter and Radio Fidelité, President Biya and his entourage are spending FCFA 28 million (42.000 euros) daily for lodging in a seaside resort Hotel in La Baule, France. This amount, of course, excludes feeding and other frolics.These expenses of the Cameroonian tax payer's money will amount to FCFA 655.950.000 if the visit spans to three weeks as the French sources have indicated. The President of the Republic and his entourage are reportedly occupying 43 rooms in two expensive hotels in La Baule. One of them, L'Heritage, is a five-star hotel at the seashore. The other one, Hotel Le Royal, is a four-star hotel said to be good enough to provide seaside therapy to any President.
It is stated that the 42.000 euros that President Biya is spending a day is far more than what the French President, Nicholas Sarkozy, the former US President, George Bush, and the current US President, Barack Obama, put together, have ever spent on a leisure trip. President Sarkozy's friend, one Dominique Desseigne, is said to be the proprietor of these hotels. President Biya, his wife Chantal and a delegation of some 15 people, upon their arrival in France, were reportedly warmly welcomed by the municipal authorities of La Baule.
He is said to have been received by the Mayor of La Baule, Yves Metaireau, and decorated with a medal of honour recognising him as an honorary citizen of the small French District. Observers say the Mayor was appreciating the fact that Biya gives a boost to the economy by way of lavish spending. Eyebrows are being raised over the huge sums of money Biya and his entourage are spending given that Cameroon remains a heavily indebted poor country.
Reports about President Biya's lavish spending abroad came at a time when barons of the ruling CPDM have been condemning claims by one French NGO that President Biya has amassed ill gotten wealth from his country. The NGO's report accused President Biya of using his position to rape his country of enormous resources and line his pockets from the public till. "It is not acceptable that, at this time of crisis, our President is spending so much on a private trip," protested one Cameroonian who read the report.
Many Cameroonians have been wondering why the President is wont to move with large delegations made up of Ministers and some of his close aides even when he is on a private trip. Recently, the BBC ran an expository feature on the attitude of African Presidents, including Cameroon's Paul Biya, who spend too much time relaxing overseas. The BBC's correspondent Randy Joe Sa'ah quoted some Cameroonians as saying that Biya's tourist charity begins abroad.
Cameroon's former President, Amadou Ahidjo, built several palatial residences in the then Provincial headquarters. But these facilities now lie fallow. Many critics want President Biya to use them for his vacations and somehow promote internal tourism.
It is stated that the 42.000 euros that President Biya is spending a day is far more than what the French President, Nicholas Sarkozy, the former US President, George Bush, and the current US President, Barack Obama, put together, have ever spent on a leisure trip. President Sarkozy's friend, one Dominique Desseigne, is said to be the proprietor of these hotels. President Biya, his wife Chantal and a delegation of some 15 people, upon their arrival in France, were reportedly warmly welcomed by the municipal authorities of La Baule.
He is said to have been received by the Mayor of La Baule, Yves Metaireau, and decorated with a medal of honour recognising him as an honorary citizen of the small French District. Observers say the Mayor was appreciating the fact that Biya gives a boost to the economy by way of lavish spending. Eyebrows are being raised over the huge sums of money Biya and his entourage are spending given that Cameroon remains a heavily indebted poor country.
Reports about President Biya's lavish spending abroad came at a time when barons of the ruling CPDM have been condemning claims by one French NGO that President Biya has amassed ill gotten wealth from his country. The NGO's report accused President Biya of using his position to rape his country of enormous resources and line his pockets from the public till. "It is not acceptable that, at this time of crisis, our President is spending so much on a private trip," protested one Cameroonian who read the report.
Many Cameroonians have been wondering why the President is wont to move with large delegations made up of Ministers and some of his close aides even when he is on a private trip. Recently, the BBC ran an expository feature on the attitude of African Presidents, including Cameroon's Paul Biya, who spend too much time relaxing overseas. The BBC's correspondent Randy Joe Sa'ah quoted some Cameroonians as saying that Biya's tourist charity begins abroad.
Cameroon's former President, Amadou Ahidjo, built several palatial residences in the then Provincial headquarters. But these facilities now lie fallow. Many critics want President Biya to use them for his vacations and somehow promote internal tourism.
