Buea Streetlights Finally Come On

By Elvis Tah

The Buea streetlights that have suffered successive destruction from rioting students and reckless drivers have finally began to glow.The lamps, most of them replaced at least twice, came alive in Molyko on Friday, December 12, thanks to efforts of the Buea Rural Council.

 

Buea lighted after centuries of darkness

Buea Mayor, Charles Mbella Moki, told The Post that the streetlight project was part of the Buea road construction project, adding that the funds for the project were not exhausted.

"We were reliably informed by Razel and the project supervisory agency that part of the funds were siphoned, reasons why the gutters have not been covered, and the job is yet to be officially handed over," said Mbella Moki.

The Mayor said the FCFA 90 million that was meant to link the lamp posts to AES SONEL Network was diverted. He said since the council's plan is to provide basic services to the population, they decided to shoulder the streetlight project in a bid to give the municipality a facelift.

Quizzed on whether the lights have come to stay or they were meant to save the face of Molyko during the University of Buea graduation day, Mbella Moki said, "the streetlights have come to stay. It is a Christmas gift by the council to the people of Buea. The lamp posts are wired in various phases and the work is on going. We want to extend the streetlights into the villages so that maybe by January, the whole of Buea will have streetlights."

The Mayor, however, regretted the fact that some reckless drivers are already destroying the lamp posts.On what it cost the council to carry out the project, he said he could not readily give the amount because the council did not raise the funds at once.

"It was a progressive expenditure, but the estimated cost of the project is FCFA 90 million. Suffice to note that the council has put in so much that the total expenditure might not necessarily be the FCFA 90 million," Mbella Moki explained.He announced that the council has also embarked on beautifying the municipality.

"We have created public toilets in some strategic areas in town and we are currently putting together resources to extend the water system in Buea. FCFA 170 million has also been set aside for the creation of a modern market," said the Mayor.     

As President of Southwest Mayors Association, Mbella Moki denounced government's manner in controlling council funding. "The worsening economic situation of our country is taking a toll on our council's staffing and finances. The National Council Support Fund, FEICOM, is not helping matters because its contribution has dwindled," he said.

He said the current tax policies are not beneficial to all the councils; "Some of the councils in some cities are swimming in affluence while others are in a stranglehold by the current tax policy."

He said in order to forge ahead, local councils have resorted to looking for new avenues and approaches to survive. Going by him, effective decentralisation should be the answer to the plight of local councils.

Comments

[Fonngang]

"the streetlights have come to stay. It is a Christmas gift by the council to the people of Buea".
Mayor Buea Rural Council.

Yes this is Cameroon. A public official supposedly voted by the people to manage their affairs which include water provision, power, and other social ammenities openly says that lighting the streets is a gift to that population who elected him to manage their money! What a strange interpretation of public responsibility! Does the population of Buea not have the right to public lighting? Well surprisingly, next election this bloke will be reelected by this abused population. At times I think it is fair to say Cameroonians just have the leadership they deserve. How can a mayor say anything like this and not forced to resign immediately?

[Danny Boy]

Mr. Fonngang,
a few years ago, the old presidency- a German artefact would be handed back to the people of Cameroon as a present, to be turned into a museum,Biya announced, as if he owned it!!! The sheep were of course on the streets celebrating. A few days ago, we learned of people bribing in Kumba to pay their bills. Mbella Moki is only paraphrasing or reading from Biya's communal liberalism.
Terrible.
A Merry Christmas to all.

[rexon]

Danny Boy,
Is Ayang Luc not a staunch follower of that Biya's communal liberalism?

[Danny Boy]

Rexon,
I think I know who Ayang Luc is, but fail to see the point of your posting above. Do you mean Yang Philemon-an aboriginal anglophone of West Cameroon extraction?
I thought our conversation has since moved on.Ha ha ha. Merry Christmas brother. Do be courteous next time. We are not fighting a war here in cyber-space, but simply exchanging our points of view.
Once again, a happy Xmas and a prosperous new year to boot!

[rexon]

Danny Boy,

Do you think i am wasting my time here? I am fighting a war here on the internet with the CPDM, just as i am fighting it outwith the internet with them. Get it clear from today. I have not been sleeping for ages because i want to do all i can to make sure this regime goes out. I am fighting a war here and to be honest, i very much hate you since i read that statement from you. Until you apologise and cleanse youself, you will always be someone i will distance myself from for life. If you wish dead to our people by proposing someone who sleeps with Biya to take over from him, u cannot be even my superficial cyber friend.

Sorry, i do not know the names of CPDM people as their names are a nightmare to me. Yes, i mean Yang Philemon. He sleeps with Biya, doesn't he believe in Communal liberalism? Answer this question, since you said he had credentials that are better than that of NJFN, tell us the credentials. I am waiting.

Cheers.

[Danny Boy]

Rexon,
this is the season for goodwill. You have until January 2nd to bury the hatchet with those genuinely at variance with your ideas. You do not need to embrace others' ideas and so long as these do not insult you as a person, there will never apologies forthcoming. You of all people should know that we live in a world of free speech and of other freedoms, notably that of association. You need not be my friend, but for heavens sake, be civil. You talk as if one wanted to be your friend!
In years to come, a historian is going to appraise Yang Philemons' contributions to the political history of Cameroon. In passing he or she will state unequivocally that Anyangwe, NJFN, Ayamba, and all others disaffected today used to sing from the same hymn sheet with Yang!! Maybe you used to as well. You are not that young, are you?
Stop harping about credentials. I told you where to look for these and if you are too lazy to, then stop these asinine postings!
Cheers.

[cameroon4eva]

All the elders in the forum, I greet you.
I am shocked at the strange similarities that exist amongst us.
We so easily indulge in self gratification that we loose focus of our purpose.
Perhaps we should look closer to SW/NW for solutions to our problems.
There are people on this forum that would rather focus on people than on institutions and that is a problem for many countries not just Cameroon.
Lansana is Dead God Rest His Soul.
Who's Next?

[red flag]

THE PEOPLE OF BUEA, MUST ENACT A LAW THAT
BANS ALL FOREIGN ROAD CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES FROM, CREATING (GUTTERS) BY THE ROAD SIDE, ,THESE PHENOMENE IS ONLY NOTED IN FRENCH CAFRICAN COUNTRIES, AS THESE SHOWS THE LEVEL OF POOR DEVELOPMENT, EVEN AS THESE COUNTRIES PAY MUCH MONEY TO FRENCH COMPANIES TO BUILD ROADS. GUTTERS ARE AN ENVIRONMENTAL
DISASTER, PEOPLE GET HURT, IN THEM, SMELLING STANDING WATER CARRY MOSQUITOES, THRASH AND EVEN RAW SEWAGE IS THROWN IN THEM, MAKING THEM USELESS
FOR THE REASON THE , DRAINAGE WAS MADE
IN THE FIRST PLACE, INSTEAD OF BURYING CONCRETE PIPES UNGROUND THAT CAN CARRY RAIN WATER SAFELY TO DRAIN. FRENCH COMPANIES LIKE RAZEL ETC ARE FAMOUS FOR EXPORTING THIS GUTTERS DRAINANGE TO SOUTHERN CAMEROONS FROM DOUALA ,FRENCH CAMEROUN.

IF WE SOUTHERN CAMEROONINANS MUST PAY FOR OUR DEVELOPMENT, WE MUST ATLEAST
HAVE A SAY AS TO WHAT KIND OF DEVELOPMENT AND WHO SHOULD BY HIRED.

[UnitedstatesofAfrica]

"Until you apologise and cleanse youself, you will always be someone i will distance myself from for life. " - Rexon

What a childish old fool. Look at the nonsense you are saying.

[Roger Riccardo]

Happy New Year 2009!

To:
* Postnewsline,
* UnitedStatesofAfrica, patriots
* and other brothers and sisters.
May the Lord bless you all!

Riccardo
CAADIM

[UnitedstatesofAfrica]

Ricardo,

thanks for the wishes and have a happy new year yourself. God's blessings and best of luck in 2009.

AFRICA MUST UNITE!

[red flag]

THE ONLY ABORIGINES THE WORLD KNOWS
ARE IN AUSTRALIA.

ANY OTHER THING IS THE LIES, FALSEHOOD, EVIL, BRAINWASHING, THAT EPITOMIZED, 12M BLACK FRENCHMEN IN CAMEROUN, THEIR ULTIMATE QUEST FOR POWER TO ENSLAVE 8M BRITISH SOUTHERN CAMEROONIANS, BECAUSE THE LATTER HAVE NO MILITARY.