Dr. Fritz Ntone Ntone made this statement on Friday in Douala while chairing the third ordinary board meeting of Douala Urban Council for 2010.

It has been disclosed that frequent heavy rains in the Littoral is slowing down or simply holding back the execution of projects earmarked in the 2010 council budget, according to the Government Delegate to the Douala Urban Council, DUC, Dr. Fritz Ntone Ntone. The Government Delegate, who also expressed regrets that most of the council’s development projects for the current fiscal year may not be complete by their deadlines as expected, but that work is expected to effectively restart later in October 2010, made the statement at the Council Hall on Friday, September 24, while opening the third semester ordinary board meeting for 2010. The meeting also examined the level of execution of the 2010 council budget, scrutinized the 2009 budget, and evaluated the level of project execution by all the other structures of the council and made recommendations.

Though last year’s budget execution could not be scrutinized during the second ordinary meeting of the board which held last April due to incomplete gathering of certain figures, the present session was opportunity to let the cat out of the bag. It was disclosed that only a meager 81.99 per cent of the estimated income could be recovered. As much as 80.33 per cent of the revenue was spent leaving most of its projects undone and in some places incomplete. Other council structures like Douala Development Agency (A2D), Douala Development Company (SAD), Program for the Development of Douala and Yaoundé (PADUDY), DUC Finance S.A., Cameroon Urban Transport Company (SOCATUR) and Douala Infrastructure Project (CC/PID) whose estimated revenue stood at 84.49 per cent spent 74.57 per cent leaving some additional money for the current year. However, the DUC total budget in 2009 was estimated at FCFA 1.385.625.613. One of the difficulties hindered efficient execution of the 2009 budget was the high age limit set for recruiting workforce, according to experts did not permit intake of new and vibrant competencies, especially youths; late disbursement of funds for SOCATUR, and the anarchy observed as regards collaboration with its numerous councils. However, the session recommended improved and well-targeted sensitization of the population, more inclusion of the private sector and civil society in the development of the city.