By: Kadijatou Njie
Barely a year after his overwhelming endorsement as the chairman of the BrikamaArea Council by the electorate of the West Coast Region, Yankuba Darboe has come under scathing criticisms from the Brikama marketvendors for allegedly failing to follow through on his campaign promises.
The vendors said when Darboe was canvassing for votes, he made a promise to improve the market condition but has since reneged on it.
“We are struggling a lot with the situation of the market. The rains are a constant source of discomfort and nightmare for us as the perennial flooding of the market makes it almost impossible for us to sell our wares,” vegetable and foodstuff vendor Jainaba Jaiteh maintained.
“I can vividly remember during the 2023 chairmanship campaign, chairman YankubaDarboe made a promise to renovate the market. He even assured us that this would be actualized within the first six months into his mandate ifelected but it’s one year now or even more andnothing spectacular has so far happened. It was because of his campaign promise that I voted for him,” she added.
Another market vendor Muskebba Fatty said:” I cannot say the chairman is not doing a great job.To be honest, he is trying a lot because a lot of changes happened during his tenure but we are still pleading with him to do more of what he is doing.
“I know the work is not easy but the people of Brikama have reposed a huge trust in him. Hon.Yankuba should still help us in this market,especially women who continue to face displacements in the market on almost a daily basis.”
Similar sentiments were re-echoed by other market vendors who spoke to this medium.
When approached for the council’s response to some of the issues raised by the women, the PRO of the Brikama Area Council, LaminSinghateh, clarified that Yankuba Darboe did not promise to renovate the market but insteadpromised to fill the potholes there. That promise, he stated, was fulfilled.
“When it rains, the Brikama Market gets flooded and we are doing our best to correct the situation,’’ said Singhateh.
He explained that the Chairman visits the market almost every day to see for himself some of the issues faced by his people there, emphasizing that Darboe is making good on hismain promise of combating corruption in the council.
