Trade Minister woos displaced King Jimmy traders

Minister of Trade and Industry, Alhaji Usman Boie Kamara, Tuesday, August 28, paid an on-the-spot official visit to the shattered King Jimmy Bridge to obtain firsthand knowledge of the immediate needs of over 300 displaced traders in the area. (Photo: Trade and Industry minister visits Traders and disasters environ )

The Minister received a rousing welcome as he inspected the rubble of the tottering bridge and the health threatening market areas.

Explaining the numerous constraints faced by displaced traders, the Chairlady of the market, Mrs. Nenneh Sankoh, intimated to the Minister that women form 95% of the trader population of the King Jimmy Market.

She explained that the collapse of the bridge and stores has adversely affected the activities of traders at Yeliboyah and Bullom in the Port Loko District who usually do business in the market on a daily basis.

She lamented that it is indeed a trying time for the traders as they are currently out of business and cannot fend to meet their daily financial needs.

In his comments, the Chairman, Chief Pa Kamara, revealed that many attempts have been made to meet with necessary authorities in order to explain to them their concerns but that all their efforts have not been successful.

He appealed for an urgent removal of the debris of the fallen bridge so that temporary make shift stalls could be erected for traders to sell their wares unhindered.

He entreated the Minister to facilitate the construction of a public toilet within the market area so that people will desist from urinating and defecating in the market.

He further appealed to the Minister to provide soft loans to the affected traders, disclosing that most of them lost all their goods as a result of the tragedy.

Speaking on behalf of the youths, the Secretary General, Mr. Julius Tony Moiwo observed that there has been an early warning signal ahead of the collapse of the bridge which was attributed to the constant drilling of the earth surface by some of the utility service providers.

He called on the Minister to fast-track the removal of remaining corpses which are still buried underneath the debris and urged for the creation of employment for the youth.

Responding to their concerns, the Minister promised that he will collaborate with the Ministry of Health and Sanitation and the Freetown City Council to construct toilet facilities for them as they largely deal in foodstuffs which are prone to health hazards.

He urged the traders to organize themselves into two groups comprising the traders and the youths and apply through his Ministry for soft loans which he stressed must be paid back so that other deserving traders will benefit.

In his vote of thanks, the National Organizing Secretary of the Petty Traders Union, Mr. Sampha Kamara, thanked the Minister for his timely visit to the shattered market, noting that his gesture will bring hope to the affected traders. He reiterated the need for a proper garbage disposal system in order to enhance the environment and health of the market.

An important historical landmark, the King Jimmy Market was established on 4^th. February, 1909.

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