First 2020 Monthly Cleaning Exercise In Freetown

The first 2020 monthly cleaning exercise in the FCC and WARD C would have ended well considering the level of collaboration between various agencies until the fire disaster at PWD in Pademba road brought that area to a complete standstill as the fire threatened not only to engulf the workshop but other business and dwelling areas in the vicinity.

The fire forces in collaboration with the youths of the area averted what would have invariably become a catastrophic disaster. The loss of property and business of many small-scale enterprises left many in a terrible state of shock and bewilderment. It is at times like this that the resilience and courage of our people becomes a pillar of nationhood.

I dove my hat to all those who contributed immensely in ensuring that the level of damage was only reduced to the PWD workshop. Very impressive cooperation and determination of national service at the risk of personal injury. We wish the affected business persons a speedy recovery and no doubt the prosperity that 2020 brings.

The monthly cleaning exercise was largely successful. The council officials, Youth Commission, the Armed Forces, Fire Force, Civil Society Organizations and Media houses all contributed to what seems to be an incremental success story. Kudos to them all.

My engagement with the supervisor of the Kingtom dump site provided the required insight of the challenges of waste management in the municipality area. Nonetheless, with the engagements of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development with FTC, there is no doubting of the fact that we all have a com-pending objective in ensuring that the President’s initiative with regards sanitation, waste management, and disease prevention is critical to national development.

The Kingtom dumpsite remains a challenge. The supervisor demonstrated exceptional organisational and leadership skills in enabling the flow of dump vehicles to the site. A key concern is the increased number of underage scavengers at the dumpsite. Children as young as four were observed picking into rubbish that could potentially pose a threat to their health and safety.

I have for a while watched these scenes on social media with absolute disgust and hair raising moments but witnessing it today brought a vivid realisation of the fact that a combination of factors results in these sort of engagements. Rationalising of such factors can never be inexcusable. Parental responsibility needs to be revisited coupled with efforts from us to cry down such activities.

My sincere appreciation to all who worked ardently in making sure that the successes of today remain unblemished.

@ Tamba Lamina – MLGRD