The
case of the Bakoteh dumpsite has been lingering for far too long.
Over
the past 10 or more years, the people, especially residents of Bakoteh and its
environs, have been drawing the
attention of the government (since the
Jammeh regime) to the fact that the dumpsite in Bakoteh has been very unhealthy as it
has exposed them to serious hazards and all kinds of diseases.
The
calls of the people have over the years been unheeded by the former regime, while
residents and passers-by in that area have been bearing the suffocation with
bad smell and dangerous toxic substances oozing from the dumpsite.
We
understand that a couple of years ago, the Kanifing Municipal Council and the
JMP Company Limited, an Italian-based company, signed the Bakoteh dumpsite
project to rehabilitate the dump. However, that deal or agreement is yet to see
the light.
While
the ambivalence over relocating the dumpsite continues, residents of the
Bakoteh, Manjai and the surroundings are enduring the bad and disease-prone
odour oozing out of that site.
Whoever,
including strangers to this country that passes by, whether by car or by foot,
would face the horrible smell coming out from the stink and toxic waste
substance of the dump in that place.
This
is hazardous to human health or lives; hence something must be done quickly to
change the horrible story of that environment.
Before
the change of government, people could not make their anger and dissatisfaction
openly known; hence they were living in pain and suffering in the
disease-stricken environment. And which is why they booted out the former
regime because many dissatisfying mishaps were taking place in the lives of the
people that none could speak about openly.
The
people have, therefore, voted in a new regime to help them solve their
problems. This must be seen to be done by the new powers that be.
The
new government, therefore, should not let the people down; the authorities
concerned must take the necessary action to change their disease-prone
environment for the better!
“Keep
Bakoteh and environs safe and healthy. ”
The
Point