Hello once more, or Salamaleiykum as they say over here,
Trust you have all enjoyed your long weekend.
News from over here-
On Saturday, the driver and I spent a few hot hours setting out the site with a couple of tapes.
Tip number one, don’t buy Chinese tapes as they fall to bits on the first wind.
Tip number two, buy a wheel instead, it would have been a lot quicker. We started early in the day to beat the heat and were ably assisted by another guy- don’t know who he was or where he came from, who was very keen to bang in the pegs.
This task was made a lot easier for him once I pointed out that bits of boxing with points are easier to hammer in to the ground than large square bits...
Fortunately, the site fits easily within both the perimeter walls and means we can keep both the existing building (skins shed, as planned) and the compound with the house in it.
We’re looking to use this compound as storage it’s about 65m X 65m so would give us plenty of room and can be separated to a certain degree from the rest of the site. It has a house in the middle which could be used for expensive stuff once the current residents are moved elsewhere. This house provided the “hotel” bedroom and TV room photographs we sent out last time we were here.
By the time we’d finished it was up to about 38 degrees according to Abdulraman our driver, who obviously has a built in thermostat. While it felt hot and uncomfortable, because it’s a dry heat it’s not too bad. I started the day walking at NZ speed but soon adjusted back to Niger speed to stop overheating. Drank about 3 litres of water and most of it came out through my shirt/hat!
The site offices are nearly complete, and the contractor is due to start the toilet/shower today. We have a good area available as a smoko room with a kitchen area and will be getting that tidied up as well. In addition, after Christmas when Project Azawak moves out, we’ll also have their 3 offices so plenty of space for everyone. The rest of the shed will be used for storage and also welding and as a small workshop so I’ve got 3 phase power going in as well. For the record, project Azawak is a joint Belgian/Niger government initiative to improve the genetics of the local Azawak cattle. It has run since about 95 and comes to an end this year and their HQ is in what will become the skins/hides building.
I’m waiting for prices from 3 local contractors for knocking over the trees that need to go, doing some site levelling work and commencing on excavations. I’ve gone to 3 companies- the guys who built the wall for us and did a reasonable job, a contractor that Mark and I met with last time who seem fairly switched on, and a large French multinational who build vast infrastructure projects and do mining work. Relationships are key over here so any appointment will need to be vetted and approved by the client before we engage.
Another excitement yesterday was a visit to the supermarket. This stocks mostly what you’d find in a French supermarket, though probably in lesser volumes and not as wide a range. A bottle of wine in the hotel is 20,00CFA (Central Bank of Africa Franc in case you’re wondering) and I bought the same bottle for 4,050CFA from the supermarket. They also have good fruit and veg, good meat/sausages etc and a nice range of leather lounge suites.
We had elections here last week. This followed a referendum about 6 months ago which resulted in a 85% yes vote to allow the current president, Mahmadou Tandja, to stand for a 3rd term. It seems he will also gain a runaway victory in the election, hardly surprising given that the opposition parties boycotted the election.
Once they all been released from Jail that is.
Unfortunately, the referendum and subsequent elections have led to Niger being suspended from ECOWAS, the west African trade association, and has also resulted in EU subsidies being withdrawn. Just what the man in the street doesn’t need. This article from a local paper sums it up.
When I say local, I mean Nigeria not Niger- the reporter would probably be hanging from a lamppost by now if he’d been in Niger;
It has become clear that Mr Mamadou Tandja, Niger Republic president's bid to illegally and fragrantly orchestrate the abridgement of the country's constitution and seek a third term in office is continuing apace, in spite of the threats of sanctions by the international community. Turning a deaf ear to international calls for postponement and a rebuff to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and a massive boycott by the country's main opposition parties, Mr Tandja earlier this week pressed on with controversial parliamentary elections conducted largely to enhance his grip on power. Tandja's mandate as the president of Niger Republic will officially come to an end in December, and his various shenanigans to perpetuate himself beyond that date has rightly been described by the opposition-and much of the international community-as a coup d'état.
Speaking of security, we’ve received a proposal back from an international security company that specialise in the sort of services we need. Assuming their price is ok, we’ll look to sign them up asap so they can come over while I’m still here. They are vastly experienced, both here and most other countries around the world and already work for mining companies and banks who operate in Niger and surrounding companies so they know their stuff and can advise us accordingly on security, political issues, travel/logistics, emergency evacuation and other strategies.
On the whole, the country is relatively secure, but bear in mind that it is one of the poorest countries on earth and we have a lot more than most of the locals do so it’s no surprise that there are people here that want a piece of our action.
We do have to be careful where we go, especially at night, and we need to have our wits about us and be aware of what’s going on. That said, everyone we have met has been friendly, helpful and seem genuinely interested in what we are doing.
That’s enough for one day, apologies for rambling on a bit- it’s your own fault for not interrupting me.
Au revoir,
Patrick
