From The INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER



Sheikh Al Kinky Sanyang
Banjul

The waste dump clerk supervisor and workers at the Bakoteh dumpsite have
called on the government and the Kanifing Municipal Council to assist them
with necessary working tools and access to proper medical care to enable them
combat the menace posed by the site to the public.

Speaking to The Independent at the site, the waste dump supervisor, Sita
Sanneh, said the lack of hand gloves, protective shoes, face masks, etc, was
making their work more dangerous than ever. He said the dumpsite contains all
types of wastes including industrial, clinical, abattoir and domestic wastes.

According to him, the site receives 40 to 60 truckful of wastes daily, an
unprecedented increase in waste generation, which he attributed to population
increase in the area. "The attitudes of some people do not even help matters,
as they dump wastes there indiscriminately under the cover of darkness".

Kitim Camara, a worker who spades the waste into the dupfill appealed for
salary increase and protective gears, among other incentives to encourage them
to do their best. He pointed sadly at his old, worn-out footwear which was
supposed to protect him against dangerous objects such as broken bottles and
sharp pieces of iron that are replete at the site.

In similar vein, another worker, Sarjo Beyai suggested a fortnightly or
monthly medical check-up to boost their morale. He showed this reporter an
injury, which he sustained, from a broken bottle.

"I will also appeal to the authorities to provide us with bulldozers and
graders to level the area, and to fence it", another worker demanded.

At the unhygienic dumpsite, many women could be seen selling consumables like
wonjo, ice, roasted groundnut, bread, and cold water, etc.

There were also many men scavengers there struggling to make a living from the
site. Equally there were children playing with junk vehicles and other
dangerous objects.


For Freedom
Saiks
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--

Make allAfrica.com your home page

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--

Top | Who We Are | Copyright | Privacy | Shop | Advertising | Sponsor Wire

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--

Copyright © 2002 The Independent. All rights reserved. Distributed by
AllAfrica Global Media

<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>

To view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface
at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html
To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to:
[log in to unmask]

<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>