By Fatoumatta K. Jallow
The perennial garbage problem at the Wellingara market in the Kanifing Municipality which has been a source of complaint by 
vendors, residents and school teachers has now started piling up again despite the repeated calls for its removal as it is threat to health of the people.
Visiting the market yesterday, Thursday, 10th March, this reporter found the heap of garbage not only piling up again but occupying the whole road and blocking access to both pedestrians and vehicles.
Binta Barry, a charcoal seller, said the Brikama Area Council workers do come to collect the waste sometimes but that the problem is that they do not clear waste in the place to make it clean. She said the presence of the uncollected garbage poses a serious threat to their health as they sit around the area to sell.
“We don’t have any suitable place to relocate and it is not our choice to be sitting here with this stench which even drives away our customers. We are appealing to the Council to be constantly clearing the place,” she said.
Another vendor who sells cooking utensils also lamented the uncollected garbage and lack of a suitable place to relocate. Alasana Jallow said the stench that comes from uncollected waste that is piling up again is a real cause for concern as it affects both their health and business.
The school officials are also complaining about the resurgence of the uncollected garbage which poses a threat to the health of the pupils who always come into contact with it when they are playing games. They renew their appeal for the Area Council to either relocate the dumpsite away from the vicinity of the school or for them to be regularly collecting the garbage and avoiding any piling up.
“We are pleading to the Council to come and collect the waste so that the children will not be exposed to threat of getting ill after coming into contact with the garbage,” appealed one of the school teachers.
Efforts were made to contact by telephone the BAC Public Relation Officer (PRO) to convey these concerns but without success. This reporter will again try and contact the official to enquire about their position on these concerns.
