Japan gives $275,000 for radio and TV stations

Japan has given the Central African Republic (CAR) 165 million francs CFA (US $302,730) for the rehabilitation of the state-owned Radio Centrafrique and Television Centrafricaine, a government minister told IRIN on Wednesday. Communications Minister Parfait Mbaye said the money would be used for the first phase of repairs to the building houses the two stations. A fence is currently being put up around the building, he said. He added that the second phase of the rehabilitation would begin in 2005 when new equipment would be acquired for the radio and TV stations. Radio Centrafrique quoted on Tuesday the junior minister in charge of planning and international cooperation, Philippe Waradague, as saying that Japan had kept its bilateral cooperation with the government despite the misappropriation of some 4.8 billion francs ($8.8 million) it donated in 2000 to the administration of President Ange-Felix Patasse, who was ousted on 15 March by Francois Bozize. "Japan is not completely discouraged despite the scandal that took place," he said. Mbaye told IRIN that the government had agreed to reimburse 80 per cent of the misappropriated funds before Japan makes another grant to the country. He said a Japanese mission was expected soon in the capital, Bangui. Japan's donation in November 2000 was for the government to give out loans to local companies, associations and cooperative societies in order to generate more jobs, Waradague said. Patasse's administration has been accused of embezzling the funds, with Bozize directing the Justice Ministry to begin investigations into how the donation was used. In April, the bank accounts of 26 former ministers who served under Patasse were frozen, pending investigations. Prime Minister Abel Goumba said on 25 June that he and Bozize had pleaded with Japan not to close its embassy in the country. Waradague said the person responsible for the management of the Japanese donation and an accountant had already been arrested. "There were recipients who never signed any contract," he added.