Chaos and Confusion as shops and markets ordered to close
Up to this day it has not been made clear the reason for the closure of shops and markets places in Freetown on Thursday last week. (Photo: School children from the east and west end of the city in their school uniforms carrying banners and placards accompanied by their school brass bands)
Whoever put out the information did not do justice to the citizenry of the capital. Even as traders and shopkeepers resumed business activities the following Friday, questions were still being asked as to the rationale behind the undeclared ‘public holiday’.
The information for the closure of business was conflicting. There had been rumours earlier in the week that traders were planning a protest march in respect of the unprecedented increases in the prices of basic commodities, particularly prices relating to food items.
The traders, we learnt, were experiencing a slump in their businesses as people no longer buy from them as they used to do due to lack of disposable cash available to members of the general public who continue to complain that the unbearable economic hardship in the country has been exacerbated by the general price hike in essential commodities.
Therefore the traders had decided to stage a protest march to press home to the authorities that things were running out of hand which required urgent remedy.
Rumours of the protest march were not confirmed up to the eve of the planned demonstration which took place on Thursday 10th March 2011.
What was however disturbing about the whole affair was to see school children from the east and west end of the city in their school uniforms carrying banners and placards accompanied by their school brass bands heading towards the National Stadium where they had been told they would be addressed by no less a person than His Excellency the President, Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma on the prevailing cost of living in the country.
After traversing the length and breadth of the city, the marchers arrived at the stadium only to find an empty stadium
It was only after mid-day when it dawned on some people that it was the Freetown City Council that had cleverly mobilized some market women to help council in launching its ‘Pick A Plastic street campaign’.
The ‘keep the city clean’ campaign is a laudable project as it helps improve the sanitation situation in the city.
But the question people have been asking is whether City Council had the mandate to order the closure of shops and business activities in the capital simply because council was launching a campaign.
It was also disturbing to learn that the launching became an APC party affair with party APC party supporters in their party colours mounting banners and parading the streets of Freetown in a carnival mood.
Was it really desirable for City Council to transform what should look like a western area affair into a political campaign platform?
We in this medium believe the launching was a misplaced programme and may not likely achieve the desired goal.
It is not always proper to politicize programmes that are meant for the general good.
We agree that City Council is heavily dominated by APC councillors, but it should be noted that any project council plans for the city must be all-embracing as it must be geared towards the general good.
What reason did council have for making the ‘pick a plastic’ launching an APC affair?
We totally condemn the politicization of local council projects as it only adds to the resentment within some sections of the populace, not to mention the confusion and chaos that attended the launching that day.
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