Businessmen Complain Of Bad Sanitation
The Independent (Banjul)
June 9, 2000
By Sulayman Makalo

Banjul - Businessmen in Serrekunda market have strongly condemned both the Government and the Kanifing Municipal Council for lacking good quality sanitation.

This criticism came days after the Public Relations Officer at the KMC denied allegation that her cleansing service task has been minimised.

In an interview with The Independent Pa Abdoulie Touray a businessman expressed disappointment that the sanitary condition of the market has worsened. He said that it is very unfortunate for a rehabilitated market like the one in Serrekunda to exist without good toilets. He asserted that although there are toilets due to water shortages they have been rendered 'useless.' He urged KMC to take into consideration the shortage. He claimed that the only way that individuals can ease themselves is to go to the toilets of neighbouring compounds.

Oumie Jallow a business woman described the condition of the market as 'desperately appalling.' She said her fellow traders are frustrated because it is more difficult to cope with the smells of water pipes that leak, and the smell from destroyed toilets. She claimed that the toilets were destroyed by individuals who take advantage of the lack of security, which she said the KMC is not providing. She them pointed out that her boutique was once broken into and articles worth D13725.00 were stolen. According to her, she reported the matter to the KMC who brought the police and a CID officer to probe the matter but later she was told that it is not their fault and that they cannot compensate.

Another concerned trader Seedy Conteh asserted that the problem of sanitation cannot be resolved due to dishonesty. He alleged that toilets are left full with excrement and the vehicles to remove them are made unavailable when needed. He challenged the KMC to stop allocating stalls on political grounds. He narrated an incident involving an old man who was suffering from diarrhea and had gone to one of the toilets, which was closed, causing him to discharge openly. He said the sanitary situation is not a political matter as people may take it to be, but a national issue, which must be brought to light.

(A.Drammeh)



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