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Gambia News: Market in Terrible State As Public Latrines Leak

Marketvendors and residents at Latrikunda Market expressed their disatisfaction overthe terrible leakage of public latrines which according to them resulted toinconvenience for both residents and passers-by. The Latrikunda villagedevelopment committee and the market chairman, Modou Lamin Colley, said theawful odour from the toilets and the leakage of faeces in the area is a public healthconcern for those residing around the market. He disclosed that the matter wasreported to the Cleansing Services unit of Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC),where he was further directed to meet with the Kanifing Municipal Council Chiefexecutive, Abdoulie Sanyang. He said his efforts to ensure that the problem issolved turned futile as KMC refused to address the situation.

He described thesituation as causing general outrage and then called on KMC to intervene as theduties and taxes collected from them should be earmarked to address issuesaffecting the market. He concluded that the situation at the market isterrible.

Speakingto this reporter, Isatou Dampha and Alhagie Sallah, all market vendors,complained that everyday the Kanifing Municipal Council collects tax (duty)from each vendor; that they also charge vendors to pay money based on theamount of goods they have. She said especially during the rainy season theynormally close their shops due to the terrible leaking and flooding oflatrines.

FatouColley, another market vendor, said she usually closes her business during therainy season. "We can neither sell nor walk around the area during the rains,"said Fatou Colley. She further complained that they are disturbed by bad odourfrom the leaking latrines, adding that it hinders their livelihood as thebusiness serves as a source of income for them.

Anothershop owner, Muhammad M. Kebbeh, also explained the constraints he isencountering and described it as terrible, adding that he sometimes found hisshop filled with faeces from the leaking latrines. He said that they usuallystay at home until it is dry. He revealed that the KMC officials were informedabout the situation but they did not respond. He said what they lost in theirbusiness cannot be recovered by the Council.

DembaBaldeh, a restaurant owner near the market said they have stopped serving mealsbecause of the continuous leakage of latrines and distasteful odour in the area,which stops them from operating their businesses. He said they always keeptheir doors close due to the persistent odour from the public latrines.

This reporter made efforts to speak to the KMC Public Relations Officer, Pa KalifaSanyang, to comment on the issue but to no avail.

Src: Foroyaa, Gambia