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Yaounde Launches American Urban Transport System

The launching of “Le Bus” on September 25, 2006, marked an end to the two-decade stretch without an organized system of public buses for the city of Yaoundé. American Parker Transnational Industries – Cameroon (PTIC), known locally as Transnational Automotive Group (TAUG), opened to the media the launching ceremony and caravan ride through the city on one of the new lines to ensure that the landmark event was well registered by the local press. Along with PTIC executives and government officials, the ceremony received a surprise visit of support by Prime Minister Ephraim Inoni and a speech by U.S. Ambassador R. Niels Marquardt. During his launching ceremony remarks, Ambassador Marquardt noted that this private investment venture would create “jobs, hope, lodging and urban transportation in Cameroon” and that its success would be “a beacon to others.” According to the Ambassador, September 25 would symbolize not only the day when the nation’s capital saw the relaunching of bus service in the city but also the day “when Cameroonians could see that private investment is coming to Cameroon to help them meet their operations.” Following an on-board press tour of one of the lines, PTIC representatives engaged the media, over forty journalists in all, in a question-answer format press conference at its headquarters. (photo gallery)