The Shenge Jetty construction in the Moyamba District funded by the Government of Sierra Leone and the donor community through the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources is facing serious set back.
This is due to lack of cooperation among the community with regards to the implementation of the project. As a result the Contractor has accused the people of failing to work hand in hand with the construction company.
Tamba Price Falla, MODCON Limited site Engineer in an interview with our reporter in Shenge said “we are constrained in working with this community since we started the project the people have deliberately refused to cooperate with our workers.”
Falla also explained that MODCON Construction Limited is also facing serious problem in the areas of hiring laborers to work at the project site “we are forced to transport workers outside of Shenge Town which is very costly,” he said.
On the question of progress and challenges at the project site, Falla said the jetty construction may likely be delayed due to the poor topography of the soil, because it is too weak to hold the foundation pillars of the jetty which obviously have to be strengthened.
He complained of bad roads from Moyamba to Shenge as transportation of building materials to the project site is also a problem. “The company spends a lot of money in transporting materials to the project site” he added.
According to site engineer Tamba Falla, since the project started on the 10th March 2009 several structures are almost near completion citing the fuel station, boat repair workshop, fish drying hall, processing hall, locker room, administrative building, toilet and changing room, water tank, security post and fence.
The site manager a Lebanese national expressed frustration and disappointment over the attitude of the community people towards the project, stating that the people are not cooperating with us at all.
When our reporter contacted the Town Chief of Shenge Tamba Minah over the issue, he said MODCON Construction company workers initially failed to consult the people about the project and that most of the youths have not been employed.
The Town Chief also said that the people are willing to work with the contractor; but there are rules and regulations in the land regarding contractor community relationship as the company needs to consult the people before they cooperate.
It was observed in Shenge that the Atlantic Ocean is gradually swallowing the land as soil erosion has eaten into the beach with coconut and other trees severely affected on the edges of the beach.
By Saidu Bah