Some have lost their lives, couples separated due to hardship and children dropped-out from school.

Today is the 576^th day, approximately 18 months since some 1,408 professional seafarers went on strike. The structure that regroups the seafarers dubbed “Unité d’entretien Des Navires-Groupement Professionnel des Marins Marchands Cameroun, VEN-GP2MC,” wants an authorisation from the Douala Ports Authority to work at the seaport. To the Administrative Director of VEN-GP2MC, Donatien Mbadjouin, article 2 of an agreement by the then Minister of Transport declares that the Director General of the Douala Port Authority should authorise seafarers to carry out their duty as professional at the port which has not been granted till date. They went on strike on July 2^nd 2014 and nothing was done, then on July 6^th, according to the Administrative Director, they addressed a correspondence to the Director General of the Douala Port who responded on the 10^th of July asking them to send just three members to represent them at the seaport. Their refusal prompted the strike to continue at their Bepanda Omnisports base till today.

The strike has led to despicable consequences on the seafarers including the death of three of theirs, though not directly linked to the strike, but some couples have separated due to lack of sufficient finances to cater for the family. The children of some striking seafarers who have become school dropouts find solace in hawking little articles on the streets. Brandishing a placard that red “our seaports need to conform to the international ships and ports security code,” Yvette Jessi Hendji recounted that her home lack adequate medical care, some of her children have dropped-out from school and that they merely survive by the grace of God.

The seafarers’ whose job consist of the up keep of vessels, security of ships and crew onboard as well as the security of goods strike 24/7. Since members have to provide for their families, Donatien Mbadjouin said they strike in shifts of three-hour interval in order to permit them do jobs just to keep body and soul together. The seafarers hope for a better tomorrow especially as Donatien Mbadjouin revealed that a committee the Prime Minister put in place to restructure the maritime sector with the VEN-GP2MC Administrator, Albert Simon Mienlam invited, they are optimistic that things will change for the better.