By Idrissa Bangura
Following the huge presence of the Sierra Leone Police at Abacha Street, that led to the removal of the traders. Traders are calling on humanitarian bodies to engage the government to pardon them through negotiations in order to continue their normal business.
According to the chair lady at Abacha Street, Mrs. Fatmata Turay, she informed this medium that, on several occasions attempts have been made on past and present governments to remove them from the Central Business District (CBD) because there was no alternative measures being put in place for them to be removed. And several moves were made by senior authority on the matter but to no avail.
This is as a result of not providing alternative measures for them; which makes it difficult to remove them at the moment. Although the previous government had promised to construct a market for the traders so that they can move away from the street, the promising market had not been finished since the construction of the Sewa Ground Market is still ongoing.
In an exclusive interview with one of the traders who gave her name as Fatu, she informed this medium that, she is a single mother with three children and she only gets earning from what she sells to take care of the children. She uses part of the money to pay college fees for her daughter. She implored the government to allow them to continue their business so that their children will not become drop- out.
Speaking to an anonymous source, he narrated the harsh realities of the traders. He said the traders would continue to face harsh realities if not being pardon by government. He went further to say that, these traders are patriotic citizens of the country. Adding that, traders may go into prostitution, street ganging, and drug addiction if the current situation is not urgently addressed by the government. All these have direct effect on their families and their very selves. Parents who normally pay fees and take care of family members, can no longer take up that responsibilities anymore and that may lead the family to poverty and stagnation.
The parents themselves who may have involved in prostitution also will be prone to the risk of [HIV and STDS] which may ruin their lives. The source further called on the government to tamper justice with mercy and see reason for the traders to return to business. He said the government can take such action when an alternative measures are being provided for the traders.
“We are calling on the government to stage a negotiation platform between the government and the traders. Through a negotiation platform, I believe the government can see the need to give the traders a chance so that their families won’t languish and to also prevent the traders from contacting sexually transmitted diseases,” the source highlighted.
“We also urge the government to provide an alternative market suitable for the traders, and to ensure that the alternative market accommodative and reasonable to lodge the large number of traders, which in effect will not hamper the conducive atmosphere of the traders.” He added.