Watch out for Scammers and thieves this December
The month of December is always a moment of joy for especially Christians as they celebrate the birth of Christ. Here in Sierra Leone as in many other parts of the world, the festivities that accompany the season provide the opportunity for brisk business. Truly the whole idea of Christmas has been commercialized such that the Holy See expressed concern about that as well. It is expected to be a season of kindness and sharing but many of us seeing our neighbor or friend in dire need, turn the other way. Love and generosity should be the true spirit of Christmas though times are hard. In spite of all this, we must also not forget that this is the time also for swindlers, pickpockets and other criminals. We have heard countless stories of people from upcountry coming to shop in Freetown during the festive season,only for them to be made to part with their hard- earned cash to crooks who trick them. Bombay Market, Dove Cut, Abacha Street and surroundings are the usual haunt of the fraudsters. There are the pickpockets whose dexterity or craft in stealing has always caught their victims by surprise. Then you have the more aggressive and violent criminals who will stalk and strike at market women at dawn, or invade homes at night to rob. This Christmas period is the time these criminals will do anything to get quick and undeserved cash. By the way we would want Police Boss IG Sovula to get his officers step up patrols day and night. We see a lot of recruits at check points at night but we are somehow skeptical about their thoroughness in searching vehicles, some of which might be moving robbers with dangerous weapons. The COVID-19 economic effects alone are too much for people already. They do not deserve more misery at the hands of criminals. Again we will advise people to be very alert when they go to crowded public places or when they retire for a night rest.
“Champion” insects all over the place
For some weeks now people from all over the country have been complaining about the presence of the Nairobi fly that we locally call champion. Actually they are beetle and are known to favour moist or damp environment, according to what some of our health experts are telling us. We have known these insects for ages but their mass presence this time is unprecedented. In homes, offices and public places, the beetles can be found. But the scariest thing about them is the acidic liquid they inhibit that is released on humans which causes burning and itching of the skin. We are told the liquid is called pederin and its corrosive and painful nature leaves blisters on the skin of an affected person. A lot of discomfort is experienced by a victim. The pederin that also causes inflammation of the skin is released when the insect is often unconsciously rubbed off as it crawls on a person asleep. We need more answers for this mass “champion” invasion that has ruffled many people. And we have to be told how this can be prevented in the future.
Western Rural District Council should pay attention to Jui
We are really put-off by the untidiness Jui junction has come to represent and the filthiness of the place is getting worse every day. The vast surroundings of this intersection along the Freetown- Waterloo road have become a very busy place. Shops, petty traders including hawkers are all over the area doing business. Jui and going through Regent is a connecting route travellers from upcountry see as a more favourable option to reach places like Lumley, Aberdeen and Goderich in suburban West Freetown. The place has therefore become even more chaotic with that higher concentration of people engaged in various activities. We can expect a lot of garbage to be generated in that kind of location. But also we expect an efficient rubbish management mechanism instituted there. Sadly that is not the case and what beholds instead is an eyesore; rubbish is all over the roads and pavements. We believe the Western Rural District Council is collecting dues from the traders but we are not sure attention is being given to the filth that is so prevalent there. The Council should have provided bins at various points for people to drop in garbage, but none is available. And the traders pay dues to the Council for which they expect the provision of some facilities like bins from the Council in return. Jui has a very busy lorry park there as well, that shows the high interaction that takes place there. There is not a single public toilet there and women especially face a lot of discomfort as a result. The Council Chairman is naturally a loquacious individual and should be expected to match that with actions that will give Jui Junction a tidy look. The picture of papers, used water sachets and fruit peels all strewn around is very disconcerting. A council is mandated to collect dues from business people but the office should provide basic services too for the people they are dealing with or they will keep asking what the monies they pay were being used for. And it is their right to know about that anyway. People want the rural council to step up and pay attention to Jui junction! Even the traffic officers have erected barriers indicating NO STOP points for motorists and passengers. We would want Council to address the issues raised here as they directly affect traders and people converging there on a daily basis. Chairman Kasho, your RED SUN sister in metropolitan Freetown has hired quite a good number of people to clean the streets of the city and people are seeing the difference that is making. More areas remain unattended but she has started well somehow.
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