Cameroon government fines 550m FCFA for neglected diplomatic building in US

Managers at the US city of New government fines 550m FCFA Rochelle have filed a lawsuit aimed at obliging the Cameroon government clears 550 million FCFA [$1.1 million] worth of unpaid property taxes on a diplomatic house it owns there.

By Yemti Harry Ndienla

Reports say the house, perched at 50 Montgomery Circle in New Rochelle ; a suburban city to the north of New York has been so neglected until it is now surrounded by thick shrubs and bushes. It reportedly sits in sharp contrast to other buildings in the posh neighbourhood.
The city officials say they believe the house is occupied but wonder why it has not been properly catered for since 1995.
Our attempts at reaching the Cameroon Embassy in Manhattan for comment when the news broke at the weekend all proved futile. However, garnered information indicates that the New Rochelle city lawyers successfully sought a lifting of diplomatic immunity on the Cameroon house in 2004.
The move rendered the building taxable. Immunity usually exempts diplomatic houses from property tax charges.
According to concomitant reports, the Cameroon diplomatic building has become an eyesore in its neighbourhood. They indicate that New Rochelle lawyers are only waiting for the outcome similar cases pitting the city of New York and several foreign diplomatic representations over tax liabilities to take further action on the Cameroon case.

New Rochelle has become a choice destination for African diplomats. Apart from Cameroon, other foreign nationals serving their countries in the US and residing at New Rochelle include diplomats from Somalia and Liberia. But sources say they usually leave and simply neglect designating persons to undertake maintenance of the buildings.
New Rochelle reportedly has a similar problem with Somalia. But via the United Nations, the Somali government has pledged its willingness to clear the property tax debt but complains it lacks the funding to do so.