Samuel Kallon 
By Gibao Brima
The once famous bustling King Jimmy market located at the heart of the capital known for fresh local products from the provinces including fish, meats, vegetables and palm oil is now said to be a ghost of its former self as a result of total neglect.
The King Jimmy market site was once used as a depot or transit point where slaves were kept before they were taken away across the Atlantic into slavery during the Trans- Atlantic Slave Trade.
Like many other areas such as Bunce and Banana Islands which were also used for slave trade have been preserved for historic and touristic purposes by the Monument and Relics Commission.
It’s fervently believed that if not for market purposes, this important place should also be preserved to continue to tell our future generations about the history of slavery.
But by all indications, it appears that thought has never been on the agenda of concerned authorities especially the Freetown City Council and the Relics Commission.
As a result of that abandonment, the famous place has become nothing more than a den for criminals who have made the area very much dangerous for decent and innocent people to go there for business.
Even the market space has been occupied by squatters leaving only a very small area for traders.
To say King Jimmy environment has become a total eyesore, could be an understatement as it has lost all the values it was once popular for.
It is high time therefore, Freetown City Council management to have a rethink to take total of the market like other metro markets to develop it and fend off these criminals.
That development will undoubtedly boost the Council’s revenue generation drive through not only collection of market dues but tourists visit as well.
The FCC needs to copy from other nations like Mali, Senegal and Ivory Coast to name but a few where relics and monuments are maintained.
In addition to King Jimmy improvement, Kroobay should also be included in the Freetown Transformation project to prevent hoodlums and other criminals from making the area a safe haven where they usually spring their dastardly attack on innocent people.
