The Mayor-elect for the Freetown City Council, Herbert George Williams has disclosed to this press his plans for the eradication of some slums areas in the city.
Speaking during an interview with Awoko in Freetown yesterday, the Acting Mayor said, those living in slums in Freetown are exposed to danger and that it is not good for the habitation of human beings. He said, they [council] are going to demolish the existing slums and then replace them with houses like estates where people would be encouraged to occupy and then, pay by installment until such houses become theirs.
Williams said, there were also plans to relocate those currently residing in slums so that the council could undertake such venture properly. The World Bank, he said, in collaboration with the Freetown City Council has got a project that is aimed at addressing the issue of slums in the city.
Speaking on plans for the health sector in the capital, the Acting Mayor said, he was going to ensure, each community has a health centre and that they [ council] had embarked on cleaning exercises in the city, – efforts that were all; aimed at reducing malaria and typhoid in the city .
On education, which he said, had been his priority, the Acting Mayor said, he had realized that, most of the municipal schools in the city were not in good condition but that, he was going to ensure, the council looked at that issue. ‘Some schools are not functioning properly, and I am going to look at that when I assume office as the new Mayor as that is my main priority…’In his words, ‘I will try to upgrade the municipal schools so that children could have good learning atmosphere…’
On his plan to address street congestion, Williams said, garages along streets in the city as well as welding shops, will be prohibited from carrying out their work on public streets and that certain streets will soon become a no-go area for commercial and heavy vehicles.
Asked to clear media reports on the proposed clock tower, Williams said, such plans are still in progress and that, the council will be providing 5% of the needed amount for its purchase while the international community will be providing the balance. When the clock will be ringing, Williams said, the melody will be that of the national anthem. He reiterated that, the newly formed council has come to deliver and that; they are not going to work on party basis but on development. He called on people to stop politicking especially when it comes to national issues. He called on those who contested with him for the Mayorship to join him in developing the city since he had realized that they had ideas that he was not having. ‘With everybody’s idea, we are sure of getting a better Sierra Leone.”
By Abibatu Kamara
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