By Omar Bah
The Standard has been informed by the Kanifing Municipal Council’s public relations officer that there will be no “wanterr”—open air markets—at the Serekunda market for the upcoming Tobaski.
Disclosing the latest development to The Standard at her office on Monday, Fatou Sillah said the Council’s decision is in response to several complaints from residents and other market stakeholders.
“We were approached by the elders of Dippa Kunda and the Serekunda market committee calling for the wanterr sales to be scrapped this year and because of that and after our own findings too, the Council came to the conclusion to scrap the wanterr,” she said.
She said the Council further realised that during the “wanterr” traffic and the free flow of people as well as life in compounds around the market are seriously affected.
Meanwhile, there are unconfirmed reports that the market committee’s decision to seek for the ban of “wanterr” this year could also be as result of complaints from existing market vendors, who lamented that their sales are affected by the temporary open air markets which often offer cheaper prices.
“This is not fair at all. It is unfortunate that some people are using their powers for their selfish interest to suppress the masses,” Modou Njie, who was at the market hoping to see “wanterr” told The Standard yesterday.
Other customers who spoke to The Standard also expressed their disappointment over the decision.
