West Cameroon Aviation, the forgotten Story

 De Havilland DOVE in Cameroon Air Transport livery getting ready for delivery to TIKO, West Cameroon. Photo C. Alain Durand

 

In the former West Cameroon, there was a vibrant economy with the main employer the Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC), a sprawling Agro-Industrial complex that was the main motor of the economy. The abrupt departure of the British, and following in their heels, the Nigerians who had all the necessary skills needed in a new nation, and had been in management before, left the territory in the hands of inexperienced West Cameroonians. If you could read and write, you were guaranteed a very good job.

Thanks to the internet, we are now getting a better understanding of the complex dynamics that made the small ruling expatriate dominate the natives.

Take for example, the Prime Minister of West Cameroon firing the architect of the young, yet rapidly expanding Cameroon Air Transport company, leaving just two pilots with five planes...! Cameroonians wonder how they got where they are today. Go figure.

No more spoilers, and I strongly encourage you to write to  Rudi Leeuw who runs a very  interesting website that published Hans Beunk's story. Click on the highlighted text, please, to be taken to the relevant links.