Yargoi the closest village to Bonthe Island by road is currently a death trap for travelers as it has caused undue suffering on the people to load and offload boats especially during the trade fair days on Saturdays and Sundays.
The jetty which was constructed few years ago has disintegrated as many of the stones have been a washed by the sea flooding to entire area.
Travelers are forced to partially undress to enable them disembark from motorized wooden carved boats and canoes to get into the township.
Many of the traders and also travelers have lost properties worth million of Leones at the jetty due to accidents caused by the dilapidated jetty with fatal injuries.
According to officers of the Sierra Leone Maritime Administration in Bonthe several requests have been made to the government and development partners to rehabilitate the Yargoi jetty but to no avail.
Some of the traders told Awoko that it usually cost them huge sums of money just to disembark on the boat with their goods whilst attending the trade fair and they also had to pay money upon their return to their various destinations.
Vulnerable groups especially women and children and the aged had to be transported on the backs of labourers for a fee from the boats to the parched land.
The sea according to Maritime officers has swallowed a large portion of the land at Yargoi due to lack of concrete embankment at the sea front.
Yargoi has recently become one the fastest growing villages within Bonthe District due to the various economic and social activities around the area and the improved road network constructed by Sierra Rutile Mining Company.
It could be recalled that an indigene of Bonthe District Dr. Peter Tucker was the lead pioneer for the development of Yargoi village as the shortest route to Bonthe Island.
Residents of Yargoi and travelers are calling on the Government to expedite the rehabilitation of the Yargoi jetty to ease the suffering on the people.
Residents however commended the Rural Private Sector Development Project for funding the construction of a modern market at Yargoi for traders.
Yargoi village is developing as a hub for all kinds of businesses transactions between the mainland and the Island with several shops under construction and guest houses to accommodate visitors.
The population at the village has increased considerably due to increased business activities.
By Saidu Bah
Wednesday March 26, 2014