Honore Kamegni, Green Party for South-East, Cork City Council 2024.
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| At anti-racism demo in Cork. |
It's a tough task to take on as a candidate and also rewarding one, reaching out and getting involved locally.
We wish them the best of luck.
Our first visitor is Honore Kamegni, recently joined the Green party and eager to represent local issues in Cork city South- East and help in whichever way he can.
Good Morning Honore, you’re welcome here to a chat mixed with tea/coffee and a little politics.
Good morning. Thank you for welcoming me to this chat mixed with tea/coffee and a little politics. By the way, my name is Honore which means honour in English. I am grateful for the invitation.
Which is your preference for a cuppa in the morning?
I prefer a good cup of tea in the morning, especially green tea with honey.
Why is that your choice?
Green tea in the morning makes me awake and keeps me stronger for the day.
What memory does drinking a cup of tea/coffee conjure up for you?
Drinking a cup of green tea in the morning reminds me of my childhood back home (in Cameroon).
We used to drink lemongrass tea in the morning. We believed that drinking lemongrass tea in the morning would prevent malaria. My mum used to force me and my siblings to drink it before going to school. Today I am still remembering it like it was yesterday.
That's a good memory. It's great to have you here for a chat. Tell us a little about yourself and what drew you into politics?
I am originally from Cameroon, and I have been living in Ireland since 2002.
Professionally, I served as a Merchandiser with Publicis Direct Dublin for 2 years
,For the last 15 years, as Postman and part of the local management team at An Post South City, Togher, Cork.
I have a Degree in HR Management that I achieved at MTU Cork and a Diploma in Predictive Data Analytics, achieved at IBAT College Dublin.
I am happily married with 2 beautiful daughters.
I am passionate about giving to others, caring, and helping those in need. For example, I am involved and volunteering with Special Olympics Ireland for 18 years. I am one of the founders of the Cameroon community association in Cork.
In 2019, I organised and collected donations such as school supplies, computers, and other necessities for a charity organisation of the primary school in my village back home.
Before moving to Cork in 2006 with my family, I was living in Waterford and I was the President of the Cameroonian Association there.
When I arrived in Cork, I had the privilege to meet Dan Boyle (Green Party Cork City Councillor),through a friend. He was so nice and kind to us. I was so touched to see a politician caring for the immigrants. From this moment, I became a sympathiser of the Green Party.
I am grateful to Eoin Murphy (Chair of Cork Green Party), whom i met in 2022.. My meeting with him was the push element of my adhesion and my activism in the Green Party. I joined the party and in 2023 I was nominated to become the elected candidate for the 2024 Local Elections in Cork City South East.
You've been very progressive since your arrival to Ireland and to Cork. Now that you’re a candidate elect for the South East electoral area of Cork city, what does this mean for you?
Now that I'm the candidate elect for Cork City South East, I am going to be the voice of the people who put their trust in me.
My vision is to make Cork a fair, equal, affordable, sustainable, and safe city to live in, with a better healthcare system.
What are your goals as you head towards election in 2024?
This is a very good question. My goals are to do outreach, meet communities, set up a strong campaign team, monitor and evaluate the evolution of the campaign regularly with my team. Every issues that will be raised on ground, I will create awareness and act on them as soon as I am elected
And as a Green Party candidate, what difference does this make? And how, do you think, can the Green party make a difference to what has gone before?
For me, the Green Party is progressive and supports diversity and inclusion. I am grateful to the Green Party for believing in me, somebody from the minority community.
The Green Party has ministers in government and we have been seeing the progress and impact they are making in their ministries. If the Green Party has more voices we will see more impact in the country. That is the reason why I want people to vote for me so that I can be their voice toward the change they are waiting for.
"The future is Green and 'Together we can'."
Sounds like you have your mission well in mind. Do you think you’ll get elected?
This is a very good question. It is going to be tough, but I believe that with the support and hard work of my campaign team, I am hoping to be elected.
I trust people want change as the cost of living is soaring. I promise that if I am elected I will take care and look after my people.
You’ve been involved on a local level in various local concerns for some time now, would you talk a little about one of those concerns?
I visited the Mahon community centre recently and what I saw as issues on the ground was shocking. For example the state of the road at the entrance of the centre is not acceptable. I had the privilege to meet with the manager of the centre and we discussed their needs and other issues they have at the moment.
You’re clearly very committed to helping people on a local level , what kind of feedback do you get from people that indicates your help is going in the right direction?
As I said before, I was at the Mahon community centre and I discussed some issues with the manager. I raised awareness and reported the state of the road to the city council. I will continue to follow up on this issue of the road. No doubt, I will get some good and bad feedback. I am hoping to get more good ones.
The electoral area is quite large and spread out. Have you had a chance to visit all these areas and get involved in their concerns and needs?
Sure, the geographical electoral area is large and spread out. My campaign team and I have designed a strategic plan to visit all these areas. I visited some of these areas and of course I am getting involved in their concerns and needs, as was the case at the Mahon community centre.
And finally, one last questions, what are your hopes for the future, other than being, elected?
This is a good question. I want to see Cork city among the top best cities in the world.
‘We must take Cork City to where we want it to be’
How would you like to see your vision for Cork achieved?
My priorities are in: transport, housing, equal and safer towns, childcare.
In Transport, continuing to strengthen the bus connect program; ensure that damage to existing roads and pathways are promptly fixed;.
I want to make active travel and public transport better and more accessible;
I want to encourage public health and reduce carbon emission through improving cycle roads.
And in housing, creating affordable and decent green housing; lowering energy bills;. Home energy upgrades.
Sounds good so far. And equal and safer towns?
And then equal and safer towns -creating an equal and just society that upholds rights and values and diversity.
Service must be provided for people with disabilities as well as for families with children’s needs. I will increase the number of rainbow centres in my locality.
And I want to make our roads and city safer and easier for walking or cycling..
And for Childcare?
It's important to make childcare affordable, increase childcare funding and increase more community childcare facilities to help and support working class parents.
Looks like you have a very comprehensive vision for Cork city.
Thank you Honore and best of luck.
Thank you too.
Hopefully, you'll be back again soon, letting us know how the campaign is going and what has kept you busy with the various issues you've encountered along the way.
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| Honore with fellow candidates Councillor Oliver Moran.and Louise Jordan. |
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At Mahon Community Centre in Cork City,
Clinic times at Mahon Community Centre. 
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