By: Sulayman Waan
Residents of Serekunda Bartess have expressed fear over the repetition of the decade’s long flash flood and stagnant water that hits the community every rainy season, saying if the roads and proper guitar system are not construct within the community obviously there will be replication of the decade long nightmare.
Speaking to The Voice recently, Mohammed Khan, resident of Bartess described the condition of the community in the rainy season as terrible; saying that whenever the rain comes there will be stagnant water in every part of Bartess especially the streets due to poor roads within the community.
“Sometimes we [the residents] have to improvise guitars to ensure flow of water but despite that water still remain stagnant because the roads are not leveled. Generally many commercial vehicles travel across this community to Talinding village that is why the roads have ditches on where the water halts,” he explained.
He then said that whenever it rains; the water will stay in the locality for about two weeks, noting that it will affect the residents, commuters, street vendors and children. “This nightmare used to affect business in this vicinity,” he added.
He disclosed that during the summer season several residents, especially the children used to be infected while the residents don’t know the cause but saying that, to him personally this infection normally occurs as a result of the poor environment. He opined that for this challenge to be addressed KMC have to level the roads and construct a guitar system within Bartess.
Louis Jagne, one of the inhabitants of Bartess said that this nightmare is affecting the welfare of the community. He added that the children find it difficult to reach the highway in order to go to school and said; during the summer season parents have to escort their children until they pass the stagnant waters.
“The stagnant waters used to enter into houses since there is no guitar system to ensure proper water flow out of the community,” she noted.
Madam Jagne further also said this dreadful catastrophe had been falling houses in the community while giving reference that her fence fell down last year. However, she continues to say that if measures are not taken to address the issue the upcoming summer season could be the worst.
Ansumana Colley dubbed Abba, said the stagnant waters and floods are greater challenge for his community as it affects the wellbeing of the residents. He said that they feel reluctant to wear model cloths during the summer season due to the horridness of the environment as a result of the stagnant waters that normally occur in the vicinity.
“This is happening because the all rain in Serekunda used to flow to Bartess. This is stressful condition. In fact, despite the importance of rainy season, but we don’t want it to come owing to the situation of our environment,” he said.
Gabriel Camara also a resident stated that: “last year his fence fell down due to the nightmare as a result of the flood and stagnant waters in the community.” Noting that sometimes his children will not go to school due to the stagnant waters and floods that normally hit the community.
For his part, Karim Darboe, the ward councilor of Bartess said he will engage the Kanifing Municipality to address the challenges affect the residents of Bartess in the soonest possible time.