Head of the environment department, Freetown City Council Sulaiman Kpaka has said The Freetown City Council has instituted bye-laws such that throwing garbage on the street and illegal street garages will be liable to a fine of Le100,000 and Le250,000,00 respectively.
Explaining to Awoko the necessity of the bye-laws, Mr Kpaka said it was necessary as the environment in the city was going out of hand, with things being done with impunity whilst public nuisance is almost becoming the order of the day.
He stated that the bye-laws were in existence but specific emphasis were laid on the public health ordinance of 1960 Section 23 of the statutory ordinance which gives city council the power to execute the laws. He however said these laws had been in existence though not effective. The Freetown City Council bye-laws also deals with property owner/tenant who will be held responsible for not cleaning the frontage/drainage of his/her property and if it is found in an unsanitary manner, a fine of Le200,000 will be levied or one months imprisonment. A passenger or driver that throws thrash from a vehicle will be liable to pay a fine of Le100,000 or suffer a two weeks jail term. The use of streets as garages have not only been banned forthwith but the owners would be arrested and prosecuted to pay a fine of Le250,000 or two months imprisonment. Welding workshops on streets are not only prohibited but culprits face similar fines of Le250,000 or two months imprisonment.
Building materials deposited on streets or foot-path shall be cleared within eight hours after being deposited, failing which the materials will not only be confiscated but the culprit will pay a fine of Le250,000 or face three weeks imprisonment.Car washing on the streets, cooking and laundering were not only prohibited with immediate effect, but culprits will pay a fine of Le100,000 or face three weeks imprisonment. The timber and bush stick sellers have also been urged to clear the footpaths or be fined Le100,000 and the sticks confiscated.City Council have also ordered that no trading should be done around state house, law court and Bank of Sierra Leone, no vehicle should honk horns at certain prohibited areas and henceforth, no form of boisterous, loud and uncontrolled publicity will be allowed within the city.
“The primary objective of the bye-laws is not to punish anybody but it is geared towards sensitizing the People to change their perspectives in the way they do things and how to make our city clean. It is not all about apprehending defaulters.” Mr Kpaka reiterated.
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