Ladies and Gentlemen,
As part of the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, on 17 March 2020, the President of the Republic, His Excellency Paul Biya, prescribed thirteen (13) measures to limit and control the spread of this pandemic in our country.
On 9 April, additional measures were prescribed, including the compulsory wearing of protective masks in all areas open to the public.
Given the rate at which this pandemic was spreading in our country, the President of the Republic, on two occasions, extended the restrictive measures taken on 17 March and 9 April 2020, for a renewable period of fifteen (15) days.
Although these measures are difficult, they are necessary to ensure the protection of all, and to limit the spread of COVD-19 in our country.
These measures have created economic and social distortions whose effects are being felt in several areas of activity.
The most concerned are undoubtedly the transport, hotel, and catering sectors, in short, trade in general.
Faced with this situation, the Head of State instructed the Government to conduct a study to assess the impact of COVID-19 on the national economy, and to determine the accompanying measures to be implemented to support sectors in difficulty, as well as households that are most in need.
To implement this instruction, the study was carried out following a participatory approach, in conjunction with the private sector and technical and financial partners.
In addition, weekly meetings to evaluate the implementation of the COVID-19 response strategy have revealed that the actions taken by the Government to contain this pandemic are beginning to bear fruit.
Although screening tests reveal new cases of corona virus-positive patients, the number of people declared healed of this disease in our country has been on the rise.
Furthermore, the mortality rate from this virus remains low, compared to the number of positive cases.
Considering the encouraging results observed in the implementation of the COVID-19 response strategy in Cameroon, and the conclusions of the study on the socio-economic impact of this pandemic on our economy, the President of the Republic, His Excellency Paul BIYA, has just decided the following easing and support measures, in order to relieve the sectors hard hit by this health crisis:
1. the opening after 6 p.m. of bars, restaurants and leisure facilities, with the obligation for customers and users to respect barrier measures, in particular the wearing of protective masks and social distancing;
2. the lifting of the measure reducing the mandatory number of passengers in all public transport by bus and taxi. The wearing of masks remains compulsory and overloading is prohibited;
3. the suspension for the second quarter of 2020 of general accounting audits, except in cases of suspected tax evasion;
4. the postponement of the deadline for filing Statistical and Tax Declarations, without penalties in case of payment of the corresponding balance;
5. the granting of moratoria and deferrals of payment to companies directly affected by the crisis, hence, suspending forced recovery measures against them;
6. supporting the finances of companies through the allocation of a special envelope of CFAF 25 billion for the clearance of stocks of VAT credits awaiting reimbursement;
7. the postponement of the deadline to pay land taxes for the 2020 financial year, to 30 September 2020;
8. full deductibility to determine the corporate income tax of donations and gifts made by companies for the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic;
9. the exemption from the Tourist Tax in the hotel and catering sectors for the rest of the 2020 financial year, as from March;
10. exemption from the withholding tax and from parking fees for taxis and motorbikes, as well as from the axle tax for the 2nd quarter. This measure could be extended to the rest of 2020;
11. exemption for the second quarter from the withholding tax and council taxes (market duty, etc.) for petty traders (bayam sellam);
12. the temporary suspension for a period of three months of the payment of parking and demurrage charges in the Douala and Kribi ports for essential goods;
13. the establishment of a MINFI-MINEPAT consultation framework, with the main economic actors, in order to mitigate the effects of the crisis and promote a rapid resumption of activity;
14. the suspension for a period of three months, that is, April, May and June, of on-site inspections by the National Social Insurance Fund (NSIF);
15. the cancellation of penalties for late payment of social security contributions due to the NSIF, upon reasoned request;
16. spreading the payment of the social security contributions for the months of April, May and June 2020 over three instalments, upon reasoned request;
17. the maintenance, for the next three months, that is, from May to July, of the payment of family allowances to staff of companies which are unable to pay social security contributions or which have placed their staff on technical leave because of the economic downturn, particularly in the catering, hotel and transport sectors;
18. the increase of family allowance from CFAF 2,800 to CFAF 4,500;
19. the 20% increase of old pensions that were not automatically revaluated after the 2016 reform.
In addition, the President of the Republic has decided to extend the measures taken on 17 March 2020, as part of the COVID-19 pandemic response strategy, for an additional 15 days, renewable if necessary.
In conclusion, I urge the population to continue to strictly observe the barrier gestures and all measures aimed at limiting the spread of the corona virus in our country, in particular the systematic wearing of protective masks in all areas open to the public and the prohibition of gatherings.
I also call on public workers who have abandoned their duty posts, under the pretext of confinement due to COVID-19, to return without delay to their places of work, failing which they will be subject to the disciplinary sanctions provided for by the regulations in force.
Ministers have been instructed to ensure compliance with this, both at the central level and in the decentralized services of the State.
It is by remaining mobilized, cautious and determined that we will overcome this pandemic.
Thank you.-
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