Bertoua: Business persons express anger after governor halts businesses, closes shops over funeral of Catholic Bishop.

It was not business as usual on Tuesday, August 29, 2023, in Bertoua, the capital town of the East Region of Cameroon.

Economic activities were halted and shops closed on the orders of the governor of the East Region, Gregoire Mvogo.

The situation, according to reports, is going to last for two days.

The decision MMI gathered is to ensure a successful funeral for Archbishop Emeritus Bertoua Roger Pirenne.

The funeral and burial of the prelate, according to an official program, will take place from Tuesday, August 29 to Wednesday, August 30, 2023.

“We came and opened our shops as usual. At around 11:30 am, a team of five police officers arrived and informed us that, under the orders of the governor of the region, we must close our businesses and shops for 48 hours in order for the funeral of the Catholic bishop to take place,” an angry business operator told MMI.

Most of the business operators have expressed discomfort with such a decision as it robs them of their daily bread.

“I can’t imagine that the governor closed shops in the city of Bertoua for 48 hours because of the funeral ceremony of the Catholic bishop without prior notice,” lamented a shop owner and designer, She added that “even if they are giving the bishop an official burial, it should not be at the detriment of our business, which is struggling to make ends meet.”

“No explanation has been given for this situation, leaving most of us dumbfounded,” he added.

Archbishop Roger Pirenne, a prominent figure in the Roman Catholic community, tragically passed away, aged 88, at the Caisse Hospital in Yaoundé.