April 14, 2016 By Victoria Saffa
Just after a short rain Tuesday evening, Portee Junction, in the east end part of the city, became a sea of garbage, causing massive traffic jam, with some motorists being forced to divert to the old road.
Consequently, residents of the densely populated district have called on the Freetown City Council (FCC) and private waste management company, Masada, to clear the pile of dirt from the street.
According to a resident whose house is located very close to the main high way, Alie Sesay, the community lacks proper drainages, while some residents are in the habit of throwing garbage on the street whenever it rains.
“I have galvanised some youths around the community to clean up the garbage and we are now waiting for Masada to clean up the street,” he said.
Another resident, Mohamed Kamara, blamed people who usually sweep the street at night and leave the garbage behind.
“I am appealing to the government, especially the Ministry of Health, to teach people hygiene, so that they will stop throwing garbage in the street. The garbage has even disturbed the movement of people and vehicles,” he told our reporter.
Portee is one of the most deprived communities in the densely populated eastern districts of Freetown, lacking drainages and good roads. Thus, when it rains each year, the community struggles with the sheer size of garbage and the deluge in the street.
This, despite a multimillion Leones contract signed by the government of Sierra Leone and Masada for garbage collection in the city.