Mayor Herbert George-Williams in an interview with Awoko yesterday at the Mayor’s parlor said he was happy to have achieved so much in his one year in office.
The Mayor said he always believe in thanking God for the inspiration, wisdom and health accorded him during this period.
He said one of his biggest achievements in his first year is turning the Freetown City Council into a viable institution with increased revenue by 500 percent. “The morale of the workers are high and they are proud to work for this institution because they now command respect as other people want to work for the council now”, the Mayor said.
He said one of the projects undertaken in his first year was to fence the cemeteries and four of the five major cemeteries have been fenced round and the others too will definitely be done.
Also he said the Council has been building market stalls at Sewa Grounds and by November they would be completed. “The reason for this project is to minimize street trading at all cost, and we at Council will achieve this feat”, he said.
The council has also undertaken a project of building toilets in the city to eradicate public sanitation. Toilets have been built in the markets, Stadium Car parks and another one is currently under construction near CID headquarters.
Mayor Herbert George –Williams stressed the point that the city needs a face lift and he is determined to succeed by ridding the entire city of makeshift structures and scrap cars, and catching all stray dogs that cause public hazard. This project he said has been a success and they will continue with it.
The Council is now in charge of all Schools in the municipality up to JSS, because of that, the Council has been donating school materials as well as other needed items that would enhance education in the country.
The Mayor said they are now considering other ways to help teachers like loans to improve their standard so they can deliver more in the field of education.
He also said that they have been constructing bridges in certain areas of the city to allow free flow of pedestrian traffic and to help in transportation of goods around the city.
The beautification of the city is also on course and the Mayor said they will continue to do it as they have done at Congo Cross and Wilberforce, and they will extend it to other areas of the city.
The Mayor said, he believes that he has done enough for his first year and will not relent to make the city a better place for Freetonians. He appealed to all to adhere to the rules that govern the city and admonish all to pay their local tax as the money is used to develop the city.
He said the on-going market project at the Sewa Grounds will be completed by early November.
By Austin Thomas