Congress Meets in Bata This Week
The third National Congress of the Democratic Party of
Equatorial Guinea (PDGE) convened in Bata this week to review the political,
economic and socio-cultural progress of the country.
The week’s activities included updates from all ministries,
including progress by the Executive and a series of in-depth discussions on the
on-going work of Horizon 2020, the nation’s ten-year development plan. They
also reviewed development on the greater African continent and held an open
dialogue on the democratic process in the country.
The discussions stimulated spirited debate over the most
pressing issues facing the country, namely judicial integrity, delinquency and
employment. Citing the behavior of a select few corrupt judges, the members
called for the reinforcement of judicial integrity based on the fundamental
principle of honesty.
To combat the threat of youth delinquency, the group
proposed increased involvement by parents and teachers and the establishment of
more green zones, where children can play and participate in sports
tournaments. The party also looked at ways to combat the already low level of
unemployment in the country, including the establishment of a human resources
office and a restructuring of the standard workweek.
The Congress was an inclusive affair that featured speakers
from all democratic parties in Equatorial Guinea such as the Popular Union
(UP), the Liberal Democrat Convention (CLD), the Social Democrat Party (PSD),
the Progressive Democratic Alliance (ADP), the Democratic Social Union (UDS),
the Democratic and Popular Social Convergence (CSDP); the Socialist Party of
Equatorial Guinea (PSGE) and the Liberal Party (PL). The speakers were received
enthusiastically, and their inclusion was praised as a sign of a healthy
democracy.
The Congress, which adjourns at the end of the week, marks
another important milestone in the democratic history of Equatorial Guinea.
