By Grace Ongey
The government delegate to the Bamenda Urban Council, Vincent Nji Ndumu, has postponed the deadline for container owners in Bamenda to relocate. Mr. Ndumu took the decision after weeks of unrest following an earlier order giving container owners until October 16 to relocate or be driven out. The new deadline is now January 16, 2010.
Three urban council mayors said they were not going to implement the decision obliging container owners to leave the city centre by October 16. During the last board meeting some councilors openly expressed worry over the decision describing it as rash.
They argued business people concerned had completed their taxes for the 2009 Fiscal Year and it will be unfair to push them out when they have not exhausted their stay. From the new deadline those concerned will not only have relocated, but would also have exhausted the taxes already paid.
The government delegate has however warned that those who will not respect the new deadline will also pay the destruction charges the council will incur. Business people in Bamenda have heaved a sigh of relief as they now have ample time to make plans ahead of end of year festivities, when they hope to exhaust existing stocks and still have time to relocate.
They argued business people concerned had completed their taxes for the 2009 Fiscal Year and it will be unfair to push them out when they have not exhausted their stay. From the new deadline those concerned will not only have relocated, but would also have exhausted the taxes already paid.
The government delegate has however warned that those who will not respect the new deadline will also pay the destruction charges the council will incur. Business people in Bamenda have heaved a sigh of relief as they now have ample time to make plans ahead of end of year festivities, when they hope to exhaust existing stocks and still have time to relocate.
Comments