By Donstance Koroma
The General Manager of Mahera Ferry has intimated this medium that the management of the above mentioned institution has commenced partial operation in order to alleviate the economic hardship that has affected the people of Kaffu Bullom Chiefdom, Port Loko District, north west of Sierra Leone, following the three days lockdown and the ban on ferry operations.
Alusine Daramy disclosed that, past Wednesday, he received a phone call from the COVID-19 medical team, the Paramount Chief and Members of Parliament, in Lungi, for the management of the Mahera Ferry to consider the option of transporting food supply from Lungi to the capital, Freetown, which will provide an opportunity for traders to equally purchase items that are in short supply in Lungi and its environs.
According to the General Manager, Lungi and Freetown directly depend on each other for the supply of essential foodstuffs, which, he noted, cannot be unconnected to the increase in the price of basic commodities following the ban on ferry operations.
Daramy noted that business and truck owners in Lungi, had negotiated and agreed to transport their goods to the capital for sale, which is the reason why, he said, the management deemed it necessary to commence operations last Wednesday and Friday.
The GM further disclosed that, as it stands, the ferry will only carry trucks loaded with foodstuffs and agricultural produces, few market women, security and medical personnel with inter districts passes.
He disclosed that such a venture will definitely put the management into a serious financial loss, owing to the fact that the goods and passengers, the ferry will be carrying, will not be enough to recoup the amount of money invested on fuel.
Because of the prevailing situation, he added that the management of Mahera Ferry has decided not to make any increase on the price of lorry trucks and therefore called on business owners not to deliberately increase prices on essential commodities.
“If we come to the realization that the truck owners are charging businesses an amount that will force business owners to sell beyond their wish, management will have no option but to increase the ticket price of trucks,” said the GM.
Alusine Daramy called on all and sundry to take the Coronavirus outbreak seriously, as, according to him “the virus is no respecter of persons.” He further stated that uncertainty continues to engulf African countries as to what will happen in the coming months.
He called on all political parties to put hands together to fight the world’s deadly coronavirus pandemic, especially when the country’s health system remains very weak as compared to developed nations that had been ravaged in recent times.
The GM advised all to disassociate themselves from fake news and rely solely on the messages put out by the Ministry of Health and Sanitation and the Emergency Operation Center (EOC).
It could be recalled that indigenes of Kaffu Bullom and Port Loko District had recently raised serious concerns over the ban on flights, ferry operations and vehicular movement within districts across the country and its economic effect on their livelihood