OPERATION RESTORE ORDER ON THE BRINK OF TOTAL COLLAPSE
The much trumpeted campaign by the Police to stop commercial drivers from cheating passengers through the usual habit of dropping them half way through their journey in order to corruptly make more money is turning out to be a big disappointment for the people. Operation Restore Order as the campaign was dubbed by the police is fast becoming a farce. As they say, old habits die hard, and the drivers are just about making themselves irrational again and they feel quite at ease dropping passengers at places of their own choosing in clear violation of the Transport Ministry’s regulation.
What has shocked commuters is the apparent lack of action by the police to ensure compliance to an order they were moving from one news outlet to another to tell the public about. Cheating of passengers by drivers has become a habitual thing in the east of Freetown. People travelling between the Bombay-Kissy- Wellington on to Waterloo route have been going through hell and the when news of Operation Restore Order broke, people gave thumbs up to the police. In less than three weeks, things are reversing to their ugly old very self.
And these are mostly the working class who suffer body and soul to have their families provided with something on the table. On hindsight the celebration could be seen as premature as unfolding happenings have proven lately. People argue that there is a bond between these drivers and the police that may look somehow surreal but quite in existence.
The Drivers’ Union has been a disappointment too; their president spoke about collaboration with the police to get their members adhere to the regulations but the union’s president Alpha Amadu Bah seems not to be capable enough to influence his members to change their bad habit that is affecting passengers so much. And the man sits on the Board of the Road Safety Authority! Really?
The zest shown by the cops earlier has dissipated and the drivers are having a field day again. This very week we’ve got first hand evidences of flagrant fleecing of passengers by these rogue drivers as the cops look the other way.
What is happening in this our country? Why attempts to ensure compliance with regulations hardly last? All blame for the collapse of operation restore order should lie squarely on the shoulders of our police. When will the madness in this our transport system in Freetown end?
RASTA SENGEH ATTACKS TEENAGE PREGNANCY IN PUJEHUN BUT ARE THE GIRLS LISTEN?
Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary School Education Rasta Sengeh was in Pujehun quite recently where he told school going girls and their parents in that part of the country about the problems associated with girls becoming pregnant. He was quite forthright in his message; the girls must focus on their books instead of making babies. He spoke about the numerous benefits the country as a whole can gain from an educated girl-child.
Well the youthful Minister got a favourable reception in that rural settlement where age-old tradition of barriers standing in the way of girls seeking education, has just not disappeared completely. Girls in Pujehun and all other parts of the country continue to have their school life disrupted by early pregnancy and many a time, parents are to be blamed. They surrender their responsibilities as parents to older men like commercial bike riders and those with money to spend. The end result is teenage pregnancy and the disruption of the girls’ education.
It is quite encouraging to see the minister upcountry creating awareness on the importance of school girls staying away from early motherhood. Babies don’t make babies and we all as parents have to keep making that crystal clear to our girls. The minister’s effort is commendable and he should also reach out to impoverished slum communities too in the western area.
We also strongly believe the Gender Ministry should recruit workers who can also engage girls in their schools, helping them set up groups they can give names like “Big Dreams’’ or “My Education, my Future’’, that can motivate them to pursue a better life by having a good education. Thumbs up to Rasta Sengeh anyway!
RETURN TO EFFECTIVE MINING IN TONKILILI AND OUR ECONOMY
It sounds quite encouraging to know that Kingho Company will soon begin mining iron ore in the Tonkolili district. That would mean jobs for hundreds of locals there as well as people from other parts of the country. Mining activities were halted some five years ago, leaving many people unemployed. Well the new company says it is hoping to employ some 5,000 workers, and that we think can help provide support to thousands of homes in the country.
Our youths who always complain of lack of jobs should go and try their luck rather than spend time arguing about English Premier League or the richest people in the world.
The Chinese Company has taken over the mines at a time many people are in dire need of a source of livelihood with all the economic challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The previous occupants of the Tonkolili mines pulled out under inexplicable circumstances during King Messi’s reign. Well, Principal has been wooing investors for some time now and Kingho might have been convinced and impressed enough to invest here, at a time conglomerates are folding up around the world, as the virus continues its debilitating effects on economies.
TRAJIC END FOR TWO DARING YOUNG MEN
Pictures are circulating on social media of the corpses of two young men who were allegedly killed by an angry mob following a botched robbery attempt. The incident happened early this week at Consider Lane that lies between Wellington and Calaba town in the east of Freetown. The two men who were said to be armed had attacked a home in the neighborhood late in the night. Some brave youths came out and engaged the two that were eventually overpowered and set upon by the crowd.
We do not support the taking of the lives of people like that as they should have been handed over to the Police. But again people will always argue that the people acted in self defence. This is why we keep saying that our youths must try to do honest work and earn a living.
From what we have gathered, the two slain robbers lived a double life. They were drivers during the day and robbers at night. No wonder people were left speechless at ferry junction Kissy where they were known drivers. Their lives ended in such a tragic way. Some of our youths instead of laboring to earn honest money, would prefer to jump onto the fast and dangerous lane. So sad!
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