By: Nyima Sillah
Scores of concerned citizens in the Greater Banjul Area have expressed growing concerns over the prevalence of open gutters during the rainy season which they say pose high risk to public safety.
In an interview with The Voice, they said the uncovered drainage systems, often found along major roads and in densely populated neighborhoods, posed serious threats to public well-being.
Kaddy Kanteh, a vendor at Latrikunda, welcomed the gutter cleaning exercise, saying it was timely, but was quick to say it should have been done a bit earlier to avoid rushing or leaving gutters open, as it was unsafe, especially when there was heavy rain. “It is hard for people to identify some of these holes when they are covered by water. I guess they should have carried along the ‘Mbalit’ truck so that any waste removed could be packed immediately, and they cover the gutters again whilst they move on with operations on the other side,” she suggested.
Another concerned citizen Kalifa Joof has this to say: “Some of these gutters have been opened since last month. I don’t understand why they are still open. We should consider the safety of pedestrians, children, the elderly and the visually impaired. When it rains, the road is usually flooded to capacity, and some pedestrians climb onto some of the gutter slabs and find a way out. So, the best thing to do is to fast-track the operation and closes all gutters.”
In a similar vein, Awa Manneh, also a vendor says the open gutters are not safe and not hygienic, especially when they openly expose the trash outside. “When it rains, the place smells bad. For this area, it has been terrible before the rainy season and might get worse. KMC needs to assist us and remedy the issue as soon as possible,” she added.
Environmental analyst, Mr. Momodou Senghore has cautioned against leaving gutters open during the rainy season, describing the practice as unsafe and unsustainable. “Opening gutters may seem like an emergency solution to help drain water quickly, but without proper planning and safeguards, it creates more harm than good,” he stated.
He warned that exposed drains pose serious health and safety risks, especially for children and the elderly, noting that they can become breeding grounds for mosquitoes and cause accidents, and if not cleaned regularly, they can quickly clog again. Mr. Senghore recommended a more sustainable approach, saying, “Clean, cover, and upgrade drainage systems, improve waste management, and raise community awareness on proper disposal practices.”