‘EXCESSIVE’ RESTRICTIONS: UB HOSTEL OCCUPANTS BEMOAN

          Despite better efforts by the authorities that be to put order and make the University of Buea (UB) Halls of Residence a comfortable place to live in, it appears that some of its occupants, predominantly consisting of female students are not happy with a number of restrictions which they term ‘excessive’.

          There is actually no gainsaying that the campus hostel reserved for over 100 females only, is of good hygienic standards, with its offer of serenity away from the bustle of Molyko. Couple to this is the constant water flow, the steady electricity supply and the provision of meals, which all together can galvanise into proper studies and nation building.

          As well as there are many facilities at the UB Halls of Residence, there are equally some major restrictions. Students are not permitted to cook, while no male person visits the occupants in their rooms, irrespective of the relationship.

          While some campus hostel occupants argue that restaurant meals save them form the stress of cooking after classes, others particularly foreigners, are of the opinion that the restaurant meals are usually not tasteful enough for their satisfaction. As such, they should be allowed to cook.

          According to some UB hostel occupants who talked to this reporter on grounds of anonymity, the restrictions of male persons form entering the hostel is considered to be abnormal and an ‘excessive’ restriction. “The authorities seem not to understand that we are big female students. Family members come to visit but are not allowed, all in the name of boyfriends and “sugar daddies”…A convent is even better”.

          The Pointer observed that some girls have gone to the extent of establishing suspicious relationships with the security guards for special favour in either returning late after the 10pm time limit or simply having exit at any point in time.

          At the UB Halls of Residence gate, the impression is quite often given that the campus police officers are serious enough to crush a violent criminal. Yet, many are girls who can not sleep at night with both eyes closed. If vandals are not around to sexually assault them, then it should be thieving idiots who come for their “daily bread”.

          Though it seems the many prevailing malpractices have not come to the notice of the hostel warden, most of the hostel occupants look forward with great expectations for changes in policies and security.

By AMINDEH BLAISE ATABONG

PAP LEADER DECRIES EXPLOITATION BY TWO UTILITY COMPANIES IN CAMEROON

While Remaining Steadfast, Hon. Ayah says AES/SONEL and SNEC (CAMWATER) Will Unjustly Enrich Themselves With 3197 billion 460 million francs by 2035.

Hon. Paul Ayah Abine, PAP (People’s Action Party) chairman, has strongly criticise the mistreatment of Cameroonians  by two utility companies- AES/SONEL and SNEC (better still CAMWATER) with naked arrogance. Hon. Ayah expressed his commitment to kick against this gross exploitation while talking to The DETECTIVE at the PAP zonal secretariat in Buea, Monday May 7, 2012.

The PAP presidential candidate disclosed that, every month, the utility companies involve in the distribution of electricity and water, collect  668 and 780 francs from every Cameroonian subscriber in a form of extortion veiled in the euphemism “meter rent” despite the fact that some of these subscribers live below the poverty line.

According to Ayah, if there are 8 million subscribers, the companies will extort per month respectively 5 billion 344 million and 6 billion 240 million, and together 11 billion 584 million francs. The amount per year respectively is 64 billions 128 million, and 74 billions 880 million; and together 139 billion 8 million francs.

In 10 years therefore, the innocent subscribers will enrich the two utility companies with the staggering sum of 1390 billion 80 million francs. “Enough money to tar one thousand three hundred and ninety kilometres of road at one billion franc per kilometre. Yet, we are waiting to become an emergent state by 2035. By that time, we would have enriched AES/SONEL and SNEC unjustly with the sum of 3197 billion 460 million francs”, Ayah added.

The most disgusting fact, Ayah noted is that, these meters subscribers are obliged to rent, cost less than 7500 francs in the market. He also mentioned that the subscribers have to queue helplessly for days before paying bills out of their hard-earned income.

By AMINDEH BLAISE ATABONG

UNIVERSITY OF BUEA STUDENT JOURNALISTS UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT

Student journalists of the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication in the University of Buea, have joined the rest of the world to commemorate World Press Freedom Day, May 3, 2012.

Gathered at the Open Air Amphitheatre under the canopy of the Association of Student Journalists in the University of Buea (ASJUB), participants brainstormed over ASJUB’s press freedom day theme: “Media freedom in promoting professional ethics”.

During the celebration, former CRTV’s Nchechuma Banla, now in charge of media relations at the Port Authority in Douala, decried the phenomenon of quacks hijacking the journalism profession for their parochial interest. While delivering a paper on “unprofessional activities by quacks; damages caused to the journalism profession in Cameroon”, Nchechuma cited that these ‘okrika journalists’ have reduced journalism to a pedestrian vocation, with the greatest casualty being North West fons and NOWEFU.

Another guest speaker, David Chuyeh Bohnyu, South West Regional Director of CRTV, pointed out the level of press freedom within the public media, using CRTV as case study, while Barrister Njualem Charles, explained how the law is a vital tool in promoting responsible journalism.

According to ASJUB President Kiven Benoit, ASJUB celebrates press freedom day so as to pay tributes to fallen heroes and to promote freedom of expression as the foundation for human dignity and the cornerstone of democracy. In this light, ASJUB’s press freedom cake was dedicated to late Bibigota while sketches and choral music graced the event attended by journalism educators, media practitioners, student journalists, among others.

It should be noted that, World Press Freedom Day is to raise awareness of the importance of the press and remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression enshrined under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and marking the anniversary of the Declaration of Winhoek, a statement of free press principles put together by African newspaper journalists in 1991.

By AMINDEH BLAISE ATABONG