By: Nyima Sillah
The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change has been challenged to hold a weekly cleaning exercise of the Tanji beach to help promote health and hygiene.
Vendors and residents of Tanji blamed the government of neglecting the beach, which they described as an eyesore that can lead to virulent diseases.
Fatoumatta Fatty, a fish vendor said: “Tanji beach is one of the country’s biggest fish stations but the hygiene of the environment is very poor. It is neglected by the government. In spite that we are doing the cleaning exercise on our own to have a conducive environment to sell, we need more supports from necessary authorities because we cannot clean the entire beach on daily bases.”
“Sometimes the beach gives a very bad odour especially when there are many death fish in the seaside including trashes. And also stagnant water around the market which makes it so hard for us to feel comfortable when selling,” she lamented further.
Nganarr Njie, a vendor called on Ministry of Environment to come to their support “because this is where we are getting our daily source of income and our health is priority.”
She noted that their situation at Tanji beach is never handling properly as they wish and “it is high time the Ministry of Environment and the government should come to our aid and make our environment hygiene for the betterment of vendors, customers and people of the area.”
Tijan Sarr worried about life on the beach which he said is scary if the ministry of environment turns a deaf ear to their call and blind eye to their demand.
“Most of these issues are neglected by the government. They keep talking about development but I think most of the key areas are left out because markets and sea sides are one of the most income generating centres but proper sanitization is not given to such places,” he said.
