The community of Kroo Bay complained that politicians will only visit them when they need their votes and abandon them after elections. This time, they vowed to vote for development and transformation of their community. It’s a common sight, just before elections, to see aspiring politicians and those previously elected to positions, visiting slum communities and vulnerable areas.
“The Mayor, Councilor and the Member of Parliament can partner with the community but cannot solve all the problems, according to Mayoral aspirant Oluniyi Robin-Coker. “The process of solving the problems should start at the community.” Robin-Coker was visiting slum communities, just before elections, to boost his chances at becoming Mayor of Freetown.
Robin-Coker furthered if each community within Freetown decided to commence a cleaning exercise and also beautification process the whole capital would be like a paradise. He was touring Susan’s Bay and Kroo Bay to get first hand information from the people on their various needs and challenges facing them so that they can collectively find the appropriate solutions to the issues.
Oluniyi Robin-Coker was an APC Minister of Energy until February 2014 when he was relieved of his duties together with his Deputy Minister by President Koroma. He then showed up as a member of the Presidential Recovery Priorities group.
He explained that the idea behind his “grap an tinap” (stand up) slogan is sustainable development where the community people are fully involved in the process, which is why he moving round with the people to see and understand their plights from community to community.
According to him the Freetown City Council will have to be the bridge between the government and the community to ensure ownership of the developmental projects.
According to the community in Kroo Bay, where Robin-Coker visited on Friday 24 November 2017, their pressing need at the moment is clean and safe drinking water. They said they have raised Le15 million as a start to construct the main bridge in the community. They disclosed that their Member of Parliament, Hon. Francis Kowa has promised to provide the remaining money to complete the construction of the bridge. They don’t have the money yet but are optimistic.
AMK/25/11/17
By Alhaji M. Kamara
Monday November 27, 2017.
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