Brenda Yufeh
22 September 2009
An exciting crowd of Cameroonians assembled in front of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York to welcome President Biya and wife.
Park Avenue Way, down town Manhattan in New York City was on Sunday September 20 transformed into a meeting ground for Cameroonians living in the United States of America and beyond. Due to the tight police security that was present around the Waldorf Astoria Hotel which is hosting President Paul Biya and wife, Chantal Biya, during their stay in New York, the Cameroonians who came to wish the presidential couple a warm welcome could not dance and sing as they desired. The police kept the exciting crowd meters away from the hotel entrance. However, this did not discourage the happy Cameroonians making their presence felt along the Park Avenue Way.
Two hours before the presidential couple arrived at the hotel, the jubilant crowd that included Cameroonians from far away cities such as California, Atlanta, Washington D.C. as well as countries such as Benelux - Brussels could be seen dancing to the "Mendzang" tempo from the Centre Region of the country. Dressed in fabric of the Cameroon People's Democratic Party (CPDM), the crowd sent out echoes which left passers-by anxious to know what was happening. Through songs, the waiting crowd revealed their vision and hope for the country. They could be heard chanting "President Paul Biya, you are our President and should be our president for the next seven years". They also had on them T-shirts and caps carrying effigies of President Paul Biya and wife, Chantal Biya with messages which read "Welcome President Paul Biya and First Lady, Chantal Biya, to the United Nations 64th General Assembly". Damaris Tumentang, CPDM Sub-section President of Mid-Atlantic North America said she was out to thank and encourage the First Lady Chantal Biya for what she is doing to African women and children particularly those in Cameroon.
In a solemn ceremony, the Presidential couple were greeted with bouquets of flowers as they arrived into the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. After shaking hands with officials of the Cameroon diplomatic missions in the United Nations, the USA and Canada, the presidential couple withdrew to their suit amidst an atmosphere feasting.
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