Reports reaching Foroyaa say that the KMC Mayor and the CEO both visited the Bakoteh Dumpsite and that dumping of waste is now controlled while a grader keeps leveling the ground and putting the waste in a quarry. This is a step in the right direction but there is more to be done.
In answer to a question on the Bakoteh Dumpsite at the National Assembly, the minister of the environment made the following promise: 1.Bakoteh Dumpsite be totally fenced and secured from scavengers and by-passers; 2.Rigorous security control of the site to ensure that the site is secured from any form of intrusion; 3.Bulldozer/shovel vehicle be stationed at the site to manage the daily dumps and tidying the site; 4.Memorandum of Understanding between the municipalities and fire and rescue services so that when there is any kindling they should be called to put it off in order to prevent smoke emission; 5.Each day¡¦s dump should be spread/flattened and covered with a thin layer of sand to prevent stench emission burning too; 6.Bakoteh Dumpsite be transformed into a transit point where sorting of waste and recycling can be done for all wastes coming from Banjul and Kanifing Municipalities in the near future; and
A final disposal site be identified by the Ministry of Lands and Regional Administration for the Greater Banjul Area for the safe disposal of waste.
Points 6 and 7 are noteworthy and we must not forget that what they are doing at the moment is a temporary solution. There is a lot to gain by collaborating with the communities on this issue and working with partners. Management of waste is a major challenge but leaders have to face challenges in serving the people, the reason for being elected.
Foroyaa will continue to monitor the situation especially the next meeting.
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone
KMC KEEPS BULLDOZER ACTIVE AT BAKOTEH DUMPSITE EditorAugust 8, 2017
By Madiba Singhateh
The Kanifing Municipal Council has started using the bulldozer at the dumpsite to level the ground and avoid high piles of waste. Indiscriminate dumping which used to be the order of the day was not observed yesterday.
Foroyaa was also reliably informed that KMC Mayor Yankuba Colley and the KMC CEO Pa Kalifa Sanyang visited the dumpsite and inspected ongoing work.
The bulldozer at work at the dumpsite
The dumpsite which was closed for months by youths residing in the immediate vicinity of the dumpsite was reopened about a month ago. Soon after the reopening it was business as usual with indiscriminate dumping resulting in heaps of waste.
However, yesterday the bulldozer was seen clearing huge piles of rubbish and putting it into a quarry. The site which has been accumulating a lot of waste materials since its re-opening has been levelled by the bulldozer.
Lamin Drammeh an elderly man and KMC employee said his job at the site is to direct Trucks and Donkey-carts to dump their waste at the right place. He said that will also minimize their work and that of the bulldozer.
Muhammed Sankareh the security stationed at the site also worked with Drammeh in directing trucks and donkey carts where to dump their waste.
He was asked whether he is sometimes disturbed and he said that used to be before but not since the re-opening. He said the police gave him their numbers so that when anybody disturbs or threatens him he can call them.
This reporter sounded the opinions of residents in the immediate surroundings. Siaka Manneh whom we once spoke to, told us that now the situation has eased since its re-opening. He said now the smoke is not disturbing them, but the smell remains as well as the mosquitoes and the flies. He expressed pleasure that now the Government is also taking up the issue.
Binta Kinteh on her part said the situation of the dumpsite remains the same as before with the flies, the mosquitoes and the smell. She called for a transfer of the dumpsite to another location.
BAKOTEH DUMPSITE: KMC TAKES A STEP IN THE RIGHT
Posted - 09 Aug 2017 : 10:44:35
