"Senators should review decentralisation challenges"

Councillors and members of the community of Douala II have urged senators to revisit some laws relating to decentralisation.

They argued that the law does not clearly define the right to taxes from structures like the Douala International Airport, Douala Central Market and Marché Congo as concerns the Douala City Council and Douala II Council.

In her address to the senators, Mayor Denise Fampou said that the need for revision was urgent as taxes from these structures are rather collected by the City Council.

She noted that money collected as taxes from these structures which are in her jurisdiction is needed by the Douala II Council to create jobs, rehabilitate and furnish classrooms and hospitals in the area. “There are more than three thousand applications from young people seeking jobs with the Douala II Council.

The law seems to attribute the right to the City Council and at the same time to Municipal Councils. We should rightfully receive the money and offer jobs to these idle young people, most of whom are university graduates,” she explained.

After listening to their challenges, the senators promised to take their concerns to the Upper House of Parliament for further deliberations.

Senator Siegfried David Etame Massoma, lead man of the senatorial delegation, pointed out at the start of the meeting that the object of their visit was to sensitise the community of New Bell on their moral obligation, stakes and challenges of decentralisation, the advantages of a free economic zone with Cameroon as a member and insecurity as regards the Nigerian extremist group Boko Haram.