By Hassan Osman Kargbo
The Portee market has been in existence for over 20 years where community people would sell their commodities, while others buy food and other stuffs to take care of their homes. This market is situated at the East End of Freetown.
For far too long, the Portee market has been in a deplorable condition where market women and traders are doing their businesses in an environment that is not conducive.
Portee market is one of the busiest markets at eastern, but it will be interesting to note that the market cannot boast of one good market structure which could have reduced the cries of the market women and traders in the market.
Speaking to Forum News SL on the condition of the Portee market, Memunatu Sesay, who is a business woman at the market said that the atmosphere of the market is nothing good to write home about, noting they need a proper market structure that will accommodate over four hundred people because the market is currently congested which has caused many traders to go very close to the street to do their business, adding that the facilities of the market is not in any way good for their well-being.
According to her, during the rains, the market gets flooded sometimes because of improper drainage facilities in the market. Their tables they used to sell don’t have good zinc unless they use tarpaulin to cover their businesses. She noted that even the tarpaulins they use are now expensive, which means not all of them can afford to buy the tarpaulin for their businesses.
‘If we have good market structure, it will be better for us, because we are facing so many challenges especially in the rainy season. During heavy rains, the market will not only flood, but also our business will be destroyed as a result of the heavy downpour of rain. This particular situation is killing us slowly,’ she stated.
Mariatu Turay also told this medium that they are sick and tired of seeing garbage in and out of the market. She said they normally pay the ‘clean Salone’ guys to help them clean their respective business areas.
She called on the government through the Freetown City Council to see to their constraints in that particular community. She pointed out that they normally pay their market dues but, things are not going well for them at Portee market.
Meanwhile, these business people contribute immensely to the country’s economy, but it seems like the government and other stakeholders concerned are not working in the interest of these business people. There are various markets within the city that are facing the same situations like the Portee market.
Business people are very much vital and much really needs to be done to help strengthen their business places across the city.
