The Increase Sum of Over 6000FCFA.
Contested By Them Bike Riders of Loum in the Moungo Division of the Littoral Region are disgruntled with the council of the area over the sum of 17500FCFA imposed on them for their packing space for the year 2021 that is almost ending. To express their grievances against the municipal authorities, the bike riders invaded the council and collect some of their machines that were impounded.
The commercial bike riders could not understand the sudden change in the amount when two years ago, they paid the sum of over 11500 FCFA for same packing space “ I pay my taxes regularly. The problem is at the level of parking space. Two years ago, we paid 11500 FCFA and everyone paid that. This year, the mayor is asking us to pay the sum of 1500FCFA each semester for packing space, an addition of 6000FCFA as we have 4 semesters, giving the total of 17500 FCFA.”
The increase in taxes to the riders is unfair as they have always complaint of bad roads and flood at that spot all the time that deprived them from functioning normally.
To the bike riders in Loum, the increase of taxes to 17500FCFA barely a month to the school reopening is not called for. To them, their efforts should be concentrated in ensuring their kids go to school not to look for money for taxes.
Bike riding is the main source of income to the youths especially the internally displaced persons coming from the crisis stricken zones of the North West and South West Regions. Therefore increasing the taxes is putting them on their knees. A bike rider revealed “ I am coming from Bamenda precisely Batibo. Due to Fighting I am forced to run to a safer place where I can earn a living. But the authorities are disturbing us to pay taxes barely two months to the end of the year.”
According to the Mayor of Loum Kuate Wambo, the riders don’t want to understand that the council operates with taxes “ These bike riders need to understand that it is with this tax money that we are able to carry out road construction works and everyone needs to contribute.”
The angry bike riders who were ready to stage a strike action seems to drop it after their leader called them to order.
By Takang Bisong