The vicinity where the Sandika is located is the heart of the Kanifing Municipality. The plot still has contested ownership on which Foroyaa is conducting an investigation. Many families have presided on the plot before it was gradually transformed into a wholesale and retail marketing site. Many big businesspersons started from the Sandika to gradually move from retail to wholesale and eventually occupy shops and graduate from the Sandika to become established shop owners. Many goods are transited through the Sandika.
However, the place has been totally neglected. Consequently, goods lie helter-skelter and sanitatory condition is appalling. Inflammable materials lie about and those investigating the outbreak should monitor the availability or otherwise of fire hydrants in the area, access roads to the Sandika, the generation of methane gases when fruits are piled up and a host of other things that Foroyaa reporters are charged with to investigate.
The fire disaster at the Sandika has caused unquantifiable material and financial losses. Foroyaa will continue with its investigation to see how far the authorities will go in quantifying the losses, identifying the causes and proffering long standing advice.
The KMC should take the lead and those in the market should come together to appoint spokespersons who would help to work with the state authorities and KMC to prepare an aid package that could help to remedy the losses. They should also be able to work out the future of the place and the services it has so far provided in a very disorganized fashion.
The fire incident is an early warning signal and the worst would come if the right action is not taken at the right time.
