BY: Hassan Alimamy Kamara
The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Ambassador Tamba Lamina, has disclosed that a 100- acre land has been allocated to the ministry for land fill site, for the relocation of Bomeh waste dumping site at Bai Bureh Road, Kissy Dock Yard, to Hastings, Western Area Rural.
Explaining further, Ambassador Lamina said no other site around the vicinity of the capital is fit for that purpose, after several assessments to ensure that the Bomeh waste dumping site can be relocated. But he confirmed that after the existing dumping site, a suitable place for relocation is Hastings, which he confirmed the allocation of the aforementioned quantity of land.
Ambassador Lamina said this on Thursday 22th September 2022, at the Ministry of Information and Communications weekly national press conference, Youyi Building Freetown.
Taking into consideration the cost implications surrounding such a decision, he mentioned that a place nearer the capital could have been the best option, but said due to its unavailability; Hastings will serve as an alternative and thus the proposed fill site as the next dumping site. He continued that engagements have been done with the necessary stakeholders as well as council to ensure that such is achieved successfully.
“Waste management is a critical issue, especially in the urban center,” he said. “It has been a priority to look into that to ensure that the place is developed. The Bomeh that we used to know would become a thing of the past,” he assured.
He continued that as a leading ministry for all councils, it has been an ardent move to ensure that government policies are implemented.
He also assured that the monthly cleaning exercise that is used to be held in the capital, Freetown; engagements are underway to regarding such. However, he urged that Sierra Leoneans should be mindful with the way they deal with their waste, for the consequences have overreaching effect.