By Charles Gbaryor, maorethason1997@gmail.com
HARPER, Liberia- As the rainy season progresses, flooding continues to have its toll in various parts of the country, with the southeastern Maryland County getting its share of the unfriendly weather.
When the Hoffman River here overflowed its banks recently, the Harper General Market has been feeling the pinch.
The market is situated along the banks of the Hoffman River, at the intersection of Green and Mechlin Streets in this port city of Harper.
Speaking to www.newspublictrust.com at her office, the General Superintendent of the market, Ms. Tetee Lewis described the current situation faced by marketers here as a result of the flooding as “worrisome and embarrassing”.
Superintendent Lewis said that the Hoffman River is an embarrassment for them whenever the tide of the river rises. It overflows the market and forces the marketers to relocate their merchandise.
At the same time, Harper General Market Superintendent noted that the overflowing of the river is an age-old situation and it has reached to a point that it can’t be controlled.
The leadership of the market has informed the Maryland County authorities and Liberia Marketing Association (LMA) about the situation faced by the marketers, “and they both promised to help in providing a solution,” Ms. Lewis disclosed.
According Market Superintendent Lewis, this market hosts all sellers in Harper City and the surrounding areas.
But besides the flooding, it has no toilet facilities, which adds to the current deplorable condition of the general market.
“Despite informing the county authority earlier, we are also using this time to call on the national government and NGOs to come to our aid in providing a lasting solution to the market’s problem,” Ms. Lewis said.
Moreover, the situation is causing marketers to leave the market and go to Pleebo and other places to continue their businesses, Market Superintendent Lewis explained.
“We find it difficult to really adhere to the health protocol outlined by the Ministry of Health as it relates to COVID19 due to the existing problem that is resulting in congestion of sellers. But we are doing all we can to prevent ourselves from contracting the virus, despite strenuous situations,” the head of the Harper general market added.
Also speaking on the current situation at this General Market, Maryland County Superintendent, George Andrew Prowd has acknowledged the serious situation being faced by marketers in Harper.
“The county is aware of the situation,” Superintendent Prowd said, “and we are doing all we can to provide a solution to the problem. We have appointed a committee that is made of the public works and Maryland county engineers to start working on the problem,” the Superintendent explained.
“The total amount needed to do backfilling of the deplorable areas and to build a defensive wall to stop the river from overflowing is US$138,000 and we have informed relevant stakeholders of the county, both locally and in the Diaspora,” said the Maryland County Superintendent.
At the same time, Mr. Prowd has presented the amount of US$1,500 to the committee to help the committee start its work, effective this month.
Superintendent Prowd is also urging the Fula business community, the Fanti community and all other business communities operating in Maryland to make their contributions toward the estimated amount needed to carry on the work.