Ambassador Garvey’s Speeches

Electoral Evening of American Presidential Primaries
“Super Tuesday” – Election Watch

At the Residence of the U.S. Ambassador
February 5, 2008

The U.S. Election and Political Change

Thank you for coming tonight to join us for a day we in America call “Super Tuesday.  I’m glad I’m not competing tonight for attention with the Indomitable Lions.  Congratulations to Cameroon for your wonderful win last night! I wish you the best of luck for continued victory in the African Cup!

” In America, all eyes today are on  Super Tuesday, the most important day of political change in the U.S. election primary calendar.  Roughly 50% of pledged delegates in both the Republican and Democratic parties will be decided in 24 state primaries or caucuses.  Today, Americans are bracing for change, whichever candidates win and whichever party wins at the polls in November.  We believe periodic leadership change helps renew our democracy.  I’m excited to see the Super Tuesday results later on tonight. 

On this important election day in America, I want to speak to you about political change – change in America, in Africa, and in Cameroon.   

America faces a year of major changes.  We will go to the polls in November to elect a new president, who is limited by our constitution to two four year terms.  We will also elect all of the members of our House of Representatives – our Congressmen – and one third of our Senate.  

Change is part of our national fabric.  In the 20th century, America survived a Great Depression and two world wars, and saw the women’s movement, labor movement, and civil rights movement, as well as massive immigration and an age of technology, transform our society. 

In the past 20 years, the world has continued to change around us in dramatic ways.  Some of it has been bad – such as the rise of global terrorism, new diseases such as HIV/AIDS and worsening concerns about climate change.  Some of it has been good – such as the end of the Cold War, growing trends toward democracy and rising levels of overall wealth.  Technology has moved at break-neck speed.  When I went to law school, I did my reports on a typewriter.  Now I can’t conceive of life before computers and Internet. 

Americans know change.  We know that change can be difficult, scary and painful.  But we also know it is inevitable and a necessary part of our nation’s growth as a democracy. 

How have we prepared for change?  We have focused on building strong but adaptable institutions.  The United States has the oldest written constitution in force in the world and it was designed to accommodate the ebbs and flows of the life of our nation as we constantly renew our democracy through national elections every two years.  We believe in limited government.  We believe that an institutionalized balance of power and a regular change of leadership are essential ingredients to a healthy democracy and key to our success as a nation. 

We believe in the supreme importance of our laws and our constitution.  When I was sworn in as Ambassador to Cameroon, I was reminded that my oath was to the constitution, not to any president.  We have amended our constitution over the course of our history but we believe this should be difficult to do, based on serious deliberation and input from all elements of society.    

We believe in elections.  When voters in states from east to west go out to vote today in “Super Tuesday”, they know that a system is in place that gives power to everyday Americans to determine the political fate of powerful individuals seeking their votes.

Our democratic institutions are strong - and this allows us to prepare for change in positive ways.  Only strong institutions can ensure that a country can adapt to change.

I know that Africa is no stranger to change.  In the 50 years since its first country gained independence from European colonial rule, the continent has transformed in many ways.   There has been progress in building regional groupings, in adopting new technologies, in strengthening economies and in nation-state building. 

As Secretary Rice said last year, “we have seen a democratic transformation sweep the continent and we have observed many heads of state leaving office voluntarily.”  There were more than 50 democratic elections in Africa in the past five years.  South Africa, Botswana, Ghana and Mali serve as models for the continent because of their free and fair elections, robust civil societies, and respect for the rule of law.  Liberia has demonstrated inspirational change, with Africa’s first female president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who quoted a Mozambican poet when she told the U.S. Congress in 2006 that “our dream has the size of freedom.”  What a wonderful dream for all of Africa!    

It is important to acknowledge, however, the many challenges Africa faces.  I think many Africans would share my disappointment that Africa has not done better in economic growth, nation-state building, poverty alleviation, and governance.  In too many African countries, the dominance of one party and/or one person in politics for too long has undermined the inclusiveness and democratic development which I believe is critical for longer-term stability.  The ongoing violence in Kenya, Darfur, Somalia, and now Chad are sad reminders of what happens when democratic institutions are weak or nonexistent.

Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan underscored the critical need for positive change in a speech last year about Africa’s Renaissance.  He outlined Africa’s failures and successes, concluding: “The 21st century Africa differs in very fundamental ways from the Continent of old.  For instance, half of the population of sub-Saharan Africa is between the ages of five and 24; urbanization is changing the very face of our demography, and technological change is slowly putting essential information in the hands of everyone from farmers to slum dwellers.  These conditions demand that we all think faster and act quicker to serve the needs of our people.  They demand more inclusive, more accountable and more responsive governments, and leaders who are in tune with the new Africa and its myriad complexities.”   

Let me turn now to Cameroon.  Cameroon has made many positive changes in the past decade.  You should be proud of your press freedoms, religious tolerance and improvements in human rights.  The 2006 Criminal Procedure Code was a major step forward.  Cameroon’s role in supporting international peacekeeping, in combating wildlife trafficking, and in hosting refugees shows an ability to adapt positively to a changing world environment.  I would like to acknowledge my government’s appreciation for the excellent support we have received from the Government of Cameroon in evacuating our Embassy personnel from Chad this week – it underscores our long and broad-based friendship. 

Friends tell each other the truth, and in the spirit of friendship, I would like tonight to offer some thoughts about ways I believe Cameroon can move ahead to a brighter future.  As Kofi Annan said, the world around you is moving fast.  As we enter a new year, my wish for Cameroon is that you continue to show the wisdom and courage to embrace a future of positive change.  I hope 2008 will be a year in which Cameroon continues to demonstrate regional and global leadership.  I hope to see continued progress in strengthening the economy – American companies want to invest here, but, like many other investors, they often find Cameroon a very difficult business environment.  This does not have to be the case and I would like to work with the Cameroon government to improve the investment climate.  It’s time for Cameroon to rise above the bottom rung on international rankings of governance and corruption.  I hope to see the kind of inclusive, vibrant democracy which Cameroonians want and so richly deserve.  In the spirit of an election night like tonight, I hope 2008 will bring the creation of ELECAM and preparations for a truly free and fair election in 2011.  

I look forward to your national dialogue on constitutional change as it plays out over the coming months or years.   I know there are many issues you could discuss, including provisions for succession, a possible two-round ballot system, and other matters in addition to the question of term limits. 

The United States position is clear – as I have said already – we acknowledge every country’s right to change its constitution and in our experience term limits and periodic leadership change – at least every decade – are healthy for democracy.  We have consistently spoken out against changing executive term limits in other countries, such as in Nigeria, and we would recommend against an effort to amend the constitution when such a move could be perceived as being for the benefit of one individual or group.

We believe the kind of very serious decisions involved in changing a constitution should be done through a national conversation in which the voice of every political party, every civil society and business organization, students, teachers, workers, journalists – indeed every Cameroonian, to the extent possible – is heard on a matter of such vital importance.  The result of such a dialogue would be a decision that all can accept and support, in peace and brotherhood – and sisterhood! 

I was pleased when President Biya himself said recently that there are many more important issues for his administration and the National Assembly to tackle in the immediate future --issues like poverty reduction, improving the lives of Cameroonians in all ten provinces, rooting out corruption in public life, bringing education and health to all Cameroonians.  The United States Government and the U.S. Embassy in Cameroon look forward with great eagerness to working with the people of Cameroon on these vital issues, and to listening in, as the Cameroonian people discuss the issue of constitutional change, prepare for the important presidential election three years away, and work in other ways to strengthen your democracy. 

I hope that you enjoy watching the results of Super Tuesday come in tonight.  Tonight is the beginning of a year of Embassy events and discussions focused on the U.S. election.  It always inspires me to watch American democracy in action – and I hope it inspires you too. 

Thank you.