BRIDGES
After the collapse of Wallace Johnson Street, King Jimmy where six lives was wasted, due to lack of maintenance, as well as the irresponsibility of the victims.
We are calling on Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA) or Road Maintenance Fund Committee to start to be proactive by checking and repairing the bridges of Pyke Street, Tengbeh Town and the second bridge again at Tengbeh Town close to World Food Programme (WFP).
Also Savage Street and Kingtom Bridge while Robgere MUST be checked now and action taken.
Hilcot, Kingharman Road junction too needs your attention. According to my investigation, Aberdeen Bridge is said to be a floating bridge, so it is a bit safe but should be checked again for any problem.
The earlier, they are checked and action executed, the better it will be for us all. Don’t wait till the disasters occur before talking science to the populace.
A word to the wise!!!!!
ROADS REPAIR
Again, SLRA, it does not mean that because roads have been contracted to companies for expansion, they should not be repaired. Many roads in the city are worse than before the expansion started.
Lumley Road at Wilberforce, Aberdeen Ferry Road, Kissy Road, Hilcot Road to name a few of them are death traps. These roads need your urgent attention and repairs. Vehicles are being damaged and pedestrians are being affected by splashes. Please take action soonest.
TREE PLANTING
SLRA, again I am pleading with you that every street that is going through expansion should make allowance for tree planting on the sidewalks.
Munda Rogers, I know you travel frequently and you see how developed countries are constructing their streets to help combat global warming. Those trees are also shade and help protect the sidewalks.
Please create spaces for trees and the dividing slabs on the middle of the road; please plant flowers to beautify the streets and city.
Let us do the right thing for once SLRA.
The entire Freetown roads need to be converted into a works yard now!
FAO REPORT
That FAO report about hunger in Sierra Leone during the rainy season is partially correct. Please FAO it is not only during the rains that people lack food and nutrition, but throughout the year.
Please you need to do another report that will give you a fair and accurate report of how Sierra Leoneans lack basic food and nutrition. More than 60% of the population do not eat three square meals a day, they might be able to eat some food, but even to afford to eat three times a day is difficult, let alone eat three square meals. Please revisit that report.
STATISTICS SL GDP REPORT
Statistics Sierra Leone has reported that the GDP growth this year will be 13.9%. That report is untrue, bogus, nonsensical and mere propaganda. How can the country have such growth when more than 70% of the people live below the poverty line, coupled with lack of basic facilities like health, electricity and water are not readily available? Why should this institution be lying and propagating false information to us, when we are suffering badly in the country? Even the UN is now using the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) which has placed Sierra Leone at the bottom of the world poverty list. Statistics, please revisit that your bogus report and tell the government the truth.
RAPID RESPONSE
The institutions responsible for rapid response seem to be out of place. During the King Jimmy crisis, it was evident that there is no such institution or maybe they are not equipped. The way and manner the rescue or clearing of debris was done was erratic as there were no coordination. We just have to continue to be thankful to God because if a major disaster does occur, it would be devastating because the system is not in place, no equipment and no professional training for workers, if there is any rescue team in the country.
The ONS, Police, the Military and the Prisons, plus other professional groups, have to be put together, well-trained and capacitated with equipment and training to be pro-active in case of disaster.
Please let us learn from countries that have gone through such problems that would help us be prepared.
PROBLEM SOLVER
The sycophancy in Sierra Leone has escalated to the point that most Sierra Leoneans just think that the only person in Sierra Leone that can solve problem is the president. The president visited the scene of the disaster at King Jimmy last Friday; many reports stated that it was the president who solved the problem.
Even though the Mayor who was there since Thursday night working with police and military was never mentioned in these sycophantic reports, it was president who took all the decisions in solving all the problems. Sierra Leone is a unique and a very strange state.
Compiled By Austin Thomas
August 13, 2013
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