By Joe Dinga Pefok
Elderly people in Douala recently joined the rest of the world to 'celebrate` the World Day of the Elderly.
A meeting to that effect held at the banquet hall of the Littoral Governor's office, chaired by the Governor's Social Affairs Adviser in the presence of the Littoral Provincial Delegate of Social Affairs, Samuel Njock. At the meeting, the elderly people complained that the younger generation does not accord them any respect.
Their spokesman, Jean Owona, called on government to elaborate a text for the protection of elderly people. Such a text should, for example, enable elderly people have access to medical care at low cost, or for free.
This year's World Day of the Elderly also saw the launching of the first-ever Miss Old and Mr Old contests. 78 year old Jules Njimbou won the Mr Old contest, while Mama Marylse Epee won the Miss Old contest which featured six candidates who were all above 80 years.
Protest Against Insecurity
Protest marches against rising insecurity are becoming a regular occurrence in some quarters in Douala, especially those where the poor masses live. Armed robbery, rape, assassinations and other types of heinous crimes are a daily occurrence. There are three central police stations, over 13 police districts, as well as gendarmerie brigades here and there. There is the Rapid Intervention Unit.
But then in most cases, the bandits appear to strike with impunity, while the population seldom witness a real rapid intervention by the numerous security services. The population of the different quarters had, at different times, tried to take communal actions to bring some security to their quarters by creating vigilante groups.
But the DO of Douala V, David Ngonou, banned vigilante groups, arguing that some of the members themselves were of doubtful character. On October 1, hundreds of the inhabitants from a part of Bepamda Quarter staged a protest march to the 7th Police District, and took up position in the yard, crying out against insecurity. Embarrassed, the DO issued a communiqué authorising the setting up of vigilante groups in Bepanda.
Three NEO Members For Douala V Re-run
There is no doubt that the main focus of Cameroonians at the October 26 Municipal elections re-run will be at Douala V, where Madam Francoise Foning, who is heading the CPDM list, will be engaged in a do or die battle. The stakes are so high for Foning at the elections.
There are three parties involved in the elections for the Douala V council, which is one of the biggest councils in Douala with 61 councillors. The parties are the CPDM, the SDF and the UPC. The municipal elections re-run in Douala V will be the most explosive of all the re-runs in the country.
It is apparently with this consideration that the National Elections Observatory, NEO, has assigned three of its 11 members to supervise the elections in Douala V. The three NEO members include Mrs Regine Dooh-Colins (Littoral NEO member), Ntumfor Barrister Nico Halle (Northwest NEO member) and Rev. Massi Gams (East NEO member).
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