March 26, 2021
By Ilyasa Baa
The lifting of the State of Emergency and by extension, the 12 AM curfew, by the government, has positively impacted fishing activities in Tombo village where fishermen were unable to take their catch ashore due to the curfew that was in place.
Millions of Leones is estimated to have been lost by our fishermen, according to the Harbor Master of Tombo wharf, John Obey.
“I have been fishing all my life but that curfew made me lose a lot of fish worth close to three million Leones because we could not slam the boat during curfew hour”, Pa Alusine Kamara informed A-Z newspaper.
A fishmonger at Waterloo-Tombo Park market, Mariatu Turay said three days ago she did not cook because her supplier could not be seen after waiting at the wharf till 10 PM. She reporter that much of the fish she was told got spoiled in sea.
Councilor for the Ward, Councilor Morlai Koroma informed us that the people of Tombo, especially the fishermen, appreciate the government’s decision in lifting the curfew, noting that it would help boost food security. He said the cries of Tombo have been silenced being that fishermen can freely do business as usual. He said a stakeholders’ meeting will be convened shortly to discuss the need for sensitization that the lifting of the curfew does not mean that the war against COVID is won or over.
Tombo, a fishing community in Ward 375, with approximately, a population of sixteen thousand, is the bread basket in terms of sea food for many people in both the rural and urban districts. Reportedly, over five hundred people were tested for the virus, only twelve were found positive and treated and have returned to the community. Residents regard Tombo as a gate way to other countries through the sea route.