By: Binta Jaiteh
The National Assembly Member for Kiang West, Lamin Ceesay, last Wednesday informed the lawmakers during the adjournment debate that heavy downpours have damaged seven compounds and affected 12 households in his constituency.He disclosed that this issue falls under the purview of the Vice President. The collapse of the seven compounds, he lamented, affected families.
“It was a serious flood which can cause a pandemic. The families require an emergency health screening.More than 50 families are affected and as we speak, the families lack food to eat or a roof to sleep.
“I think this is an emergency issue and the National Disaster Management Agency should immediately approach the issue to make sure that the people have food to eat and a place to sleep,” he explained.
“We have realized that this is the first of its kind in the history of Kiang Kuli Kunda community,” he added.
The Kiang West lawmaker pointed out that the flood was caused by the ongoing road construction works inKiang, explaining that the entire water waste was directed to only one “very small” culvert and that was not the case initially. He told the House that the contractor confirmed that they directed the drainage system to that small culvert and now it cannot allow the water to pass.
According to him, the issue was negotiated with the Ministry of Works and the Ministry did the assessment and promised to respond.
“The people demand an emergency approach otherwise if it rains again, it can be dangerous and we are trying to avoid another disaster,” said NAM Ceesay.
