By: Ismail Manjang
Scores of market vendors within the Greater Banjul Area on Wednesday expressed concern over the challenges they always face during the rainy season, and quickly appealed to Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda to come to their aid and support them as the season is fast approaching.
Reaching out to The Voice, Faburama Saho said they want Mayor Talib to renovate the market to a better market standard taking into consideration that the Serekunda Market is among the biggest markets in The Gambia which is also a face of the Gambia as a commercial market that many visitors and especially tourists always visit in the country.
And besides, the Serekunda market is existing for a very long time people in The Gambia always come for shopping there,
“During the rainy season, we suffer a lot here because the water will not have enough space to pass so KMC should try and help us, please,” he pleaded.
Also, Mr. Saho appealed to the Mayor to assist them with enough water supply, adding his area (in the market) does not have sufficient water and he frequently uses water for his business and other necessities.
Notwithstanding, he praised the Mayor for the immense transformation in the area of collecting ‘Mbalits’ – dust bins in the market and making them feel comfortable in the market compared to the past.
On a similar note, Katim Touray added that he wants Talib to assist them clear all stagnant water in the market dumpsite, saying it is not healthy, hygienic and during the rainy season, they suffer a lot.
“This place here (pointing to the area he sells) we are the ones who made it. We bought bags of cement with our money so that when the water comes, it can pass easily. We are just praying that he comes to our aid soonest,” he prayed.
Another vendor in the market, Muhammed Jobe, extolled the Mayor for the great development he has done in cleaning the market environs but was quick to say, there are still some gaps that need to be filled. While he also joined others to appeal to him to assist them in filling those gaps saying they trusted him that’s why they gave him their votes.
“For my area, every day KMC workers come and clean the place but I don’t know about other areas,” he opined.