Sierra Leone News: Mayor urges all to brace-up for disaster

Politics

In an exclusive interview, the Mayor of the Municipality of Freetown, His Worship Franklyn Bode Gibson has said that following the global trend it is without gainsay that Africa is the next continent that is likely to be hit by natural disaster such as flooding. “Flooding started in Europe and moved to Asia and Australia, out of common sense you will know that it moves and [thus] likely to come to us; that is why we need to be prepared,” he said. He pointed out that environmentalists had envisaged that Freetown is the third most disaster prone city in the world, noting that this is as a result of massive deforestation “we want to see how we can turn all that around by making Freetown safer,” he averred. Mayor Gibson stressed that of late “with the slightest downpour the streets and the drainages are filled with silt, this is as a result of massive deforestation up the hills, and that is what is causing the flood.” The Mayor has also revived 8th June the National tree-planting day in order to beautify the country, adding that it is prudent to observe this day and plant tress and flowers during the rain, noting that they would blossom instead and not perish. He also further urged residents to plant flowers in open spaces, and areas in front of their houses. However this is not the first time the Mayor has embarked on such a venture, the first attempt was at Spur Road but the trees were up rooted by a mad man; the second attempt was a collaborative effort with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to construct flowerpot and plant flowers along the highway but most of the flowerpots were destroyed by “reckless drivers,” Mayor Gibson explained. Nevertheless though, the Mayor has assured that this time around the beautification and protection of Freetown would come to fruition because the areas were they are planted won’t be destroyed by reckless drivers. Tuesday June 14, 2016

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