By: Problyn J. Alpha
Traders at the Main Konomanyi Lorry Park trade fare in Koidu City Kono District have blasted for the Koidu New Sembehun City Council (KNSCC) and the Drivers General Transport Workers union in Kono District for the deplorable condition of the said park especially after a heavy down pour.
Talking to this medium Hawa Coker and Mabinty Sandy on behalf of their colleague traders at the aforementioned trade fare on Mondays noted with dismay that the condition of the said park especially after a heavy down pour does not befit the daily and weekly market dues they pay to both the Koidu New Sembehun City Council and that of the Drivers General Transport Workers union in Kono District for the use of the said park.
They Pointed out that the Trade fare which is hosted at the Main Konomanyi Lorry Park on every Monday in a week is very important as people especially business women and men within Kono District and the neighbouring countries Liberia and Guinea do transact business at the said park and as a result the park should be well kept because it is where many commodities especially food stuff are sold for human consumption.
They maintained that for the use of the said park after any heavy down pour, except they have to throw away the pool of water that settles in the potholes of the said park that hosts the trade fare in Koidu City Kono District on every Monday with little or nothing done by the Koidu New Sembehun City council and the drivers General Transport Workers Union in order to address the deplorable condition of the park that now hosts an international trade fare.
Nanah Jalloh Conteh is the Environment Officer attached to the environment departments of the Koidu New Sembehun City Council in an interview with our correspondent she maintained that her responsibility is to make sure that the Municipality of Koidu is kept clean noting the maintenance of the Main Konomanyi Lorry park falls under the purview of the Drivers Union management in Kono District.
On his part the Kono District secretary General of the Drivers and General Transport workers Union Samuel T. Nyuma noted that the use of the above mentioned park is on business basis that is his union effects monthly payments for the use of the said park with the understanding that the council does clean the park on every Tuesday after the Monday trade fare whereas his Union’s responsibility is to do the needful maintenance at the said park.
Asked to know the union’s take on the present deplorable condition of the main Konomanyi lorry park, the administrative head of the Drivers and General transport workers union in Kono District intimated this medium that plans are afoot by the union to give a face lift to the said park but owing to the challenges of having the materials for the said work such plans are moving at a snail pace as the areas meant to buy sand and granite for the work have been reportedly sold to certain mining company by some stakeholders in the district.
Samuel T. Nyuma further told this medium that a delegate from his union has on Monday 26th September, 2022 hung heads with the Koidu New Sembehun City Council for the maintenance of the park in question noting thankfully enough the Mayor of the Koidu New Sembehun City Council his worship Komba M. Sam has consented to unanimously work with the Drivers and General Transport workers union in Kono District to give a befitting face lift to the main Konomanyi Lorry Park Mr. Nyuma opined.
