An Open Letter to the Mayor of Bamenda III Council

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The Mayor,

Bamenda III Council.

Dear Sir,

         Subject: Urgent Need to Stop Pollution, Land Reclamation, and Deforestation 

It is a great honor to write to your office concerning the health of our environment in the municipality. Bamenda III council was once known as the cleanest Council in the North West Region. This gave us joy as we enjoyed the clean environment and lived a healthy life. This did not last long because many bad habits were adopted by the population coupled with the Anglophone crisis. We are no longer proud of our municipality because of the filth that lithers our streets, markets and homes. I am not happy with this situation because it can be avoided. The consequences of bad waste disposal and management are very visible in everyone’s eyes.

The disposal of dirt or gabage on the streets are very common. The Nkwen Market, Family Pharmacy bridge, Farmers House Mile 3, Foku building material store at Mile 4 etc. are homes to all the household gabages. These are just a few of them that we can easily mention. The worst of all is that foodstuff is sold besides some of these places which can cause or is causing a lot of diseases. In addition to this, trees are cut down carelessly for woods and construction.

Sir, the reclamation of wetland is very alarming in our municipality. International conventions forbid the reclaiming of marshy land but in Bamenda III, raffia bushes are cut down everyday, giving way to construction of houses. There is also the burning of grass and ‘ankara’ which are very destructive to the fertility of the soil and the ozone layer. The burning of plastics also causes a lot of environmental challenges.

Lord Mayor, the consequences of these environmental challenges are many. The first of them is gabage disposal in the streets, markets, bridges and homes. This causes many sicknesses as the flies carry bacteria from them and deposit on foods. Also, they breed many mosquitoes that causes malaria. The proof is clear in our hospitals with many malaria consultations and treatment. The gabage thrown into our streams and on the bridges, causes floods that sometimes destroy houses and render some people and animals homeless, as we have witnessed this year in Mile 4, Sisia Quarter, Cow Street, K-town etc.

The rampant cutting down of trees leads to landslides, erosion, increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and reduces the fertility of the soil. Some years ago, I lost a cherished friend and classmate to landslide in Sisia Quarter as a result of deforestation. Deforestation is therefore, a dangerous act that can be considered as crime against humanity. In addition, almost all the wetlands in our municipality are being reclaimed because of increase in population. These wetlands help in absorbing all the toxics and chemicals and helps in stopping the causes of many diseases. In my neighbourhood in Mbessi Quarter-Mile 4 Nkwen, the beautiful vegetation that was present a year ago has completely been destroyed and houses being constructed. To make it worse, many farmers still practice the burning of the soil through ‘ankara’. This practice kills all the worms and other organisms that keep the soil fertile. The fire is also incontrollable and sometimes spread and burn down homes. Also, the burning of plastics releases toxic gases into the atmosphere causing air pollution, destroying the ozone layer and consequently increasing the temperature.

Lord Mayor, the following are suggested as solutions to these environmental challenges. First, waste should be managed in such a way that, plastic bottles, wrappings and metals should be recycled while the perishable can be used as compost manure in our farms and gardens. Also, a legislation should be voted or put in place obliging people to plant at least 3 trees for one cut down and carter for them until they grow. The municipality can also oblige parents to pay an environmental tax while doing the birth certificates of their children so that the money can sponsor tree planting. Besides, a yearly tree planting day should established for each family to plant trees according to the number of children they have. A free car day should be established during which people are encouraged to trek to work, church, school. Only some importants car services like th ambullance should be allowed. This will help in reducing the amount of toxic gasses in the air.

Another solution goes to wetland reclamation challenge. This activity should be banned and defaulters severely punished with prison terms. The burning of grass or forest and ‘ankara’ should have the same punishment as wetland.

Sir, while praying for a favorable response and action from you, I remain

Yours faithfully,

Audrey Njonwi Sanda,

Young Environmental Ambassador,

Mile 4 Nkwen-Bamenda.