By Augustine Gibao Brima

Following the heavy down pour of rain that makes it difficult for the inhabitants in Lower New York to have free movement within their community, the community chairman Mr. John Lewis in collaboration with the youths headed by their acting leader John Sevalie, have reactivated their drainage project which has been ongoing but came to a halt due to   lack of adequate financial support for months.

Talking to the acting youth leader Mr. John   Sevalie said the purpose of renewing the project despite the financial and other difficulties, is for them to have easy access to motorbikes to take them to Lower New York. He said the riders have always been complaining about the bad conditions of roads in that community due to serious erosion caused by heavy down pour of rain. “We started this drainage project long ago but had to stop it due to lack of finance since the project is self-financed,” the chairman frustratingly disclosed. He added: “Even though it’s a community project, but we don’t have to relent since we have an able community chairman and a hard working headman, Mr. Foday Conteh whom we’ve continued to receive support from.

In a snap interview with the Community Chairman Mr John Lewis on the purpose of the drainage project, he told Africa24 that the project is a community project sponsored from funds raised by individuals within the community. The project, he stressed is not new, adding that over the years, they had managed to make parts of the drainage but due to financial challenge it stopped. “But with the enormous help from our headman Foday Conteh, who has stood firm together with other humanitarian community members we’ve restarted the work to ensure we all benefit as the issue is affecting all of us. Chairman Lewis heaped of praises on the youths for sacrificing their time and efforts to ensure that the project succeeds for the development and benefit of the entire community.

Mr. Lewis also commended headman Conteh for his immense contributions not only to the drainage project but also in erecting street solar lights to help ease the movement of people at night. He said the solar project has also helped to reduce crime rate in their area by creating fear in criminals who used to wreak havoc on people especially at night.

Dilating further, Chairman Lewis said they have other community projects that need to be completed citing the New York Community field and toilet. Mr Lewis said this field project particularly is very much significant since ninety percent of the schools within New York use it for sporting and other recreational activities as well as Churches Muslims who use it for prayers and crusades.

He therefore appealed to donors for help in the development drive of New York.