Effa Tambenkongho
7 May 2008
The area where the council had forced trucks out for construction has a controversy and the trucks are back again.
In October 2007, the Mayor of Douala II Council, Denise Fampou, issued a communiqué asking all owners of trucks parked around public places to take them off. Carrefour Bensken in New Bell, was one of the public areas concerned by the communiqué. It was a parking spot for the heavy duty vehicles. The trucks stationed at the Carrefour were taken away.
The area was cleared and kept clean and it was said that the Douala City Council wanted to construct a public garden in the locality. The idea, according to most of the inhabitants of Carrefour New Bell who spoke to CT, has been rejected by Fampou, whom they say has halted construction which had already begun. The trucks which had left the area have returned and are parked in the same place. One of the inhabitants insinuated that the Mayor allowed it because she is making plenty of money out of the place thanks to parking fee.
When CT got to the Douala II council to get the reaction of the mayor, she was not on seat. But an unconfirmed source said the Mayor halted construction by the CUD because the space has been earmarked to construct a Youth Centre for Douala II youths. The source said the mayor had already received a go ahead from the Minister. According to the source, the CUD wants to take the land forcefully.
But the Chief of Cabinet who also doubles as Communication officer of the Douala II council said all the information was untrue. He said the only problem is administrative misunderstanding which the government has brought under control and is trying to regulate.
He added that it was the Mayor who issued the communiqué because the trucks, parked in that area were disturbing circulation and used as hideout for thieves. It used to render the place dirty too.
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