The rains are coming hard and heavy and while we are all thankful for them from an agricultural point of view they are wrecking havoc in certain areas. For long periods during heavy rains transport is almost impossible to get on the roads, as conditions are just too hazardous to drive in. This can be of no complaint for anyone as safety on our roads should be a top priority for all of us. However, when the rains ease and the transport re-appears the drivers must contend with often severe flooding and many hidden surprises. On the main roads they must be constantly cognisant of heavy flooding on the edges of the roads and of other vehicles swerving, sometimes very dangerously, to avoid the water. This leads to a very dangerous situation for drivers, pedestrians and potential passengers.

When drivers leave the main roads they are faced with an even more daunting task. They must be aware that in many places the road will have disintegrated under the weight of the downpour and what looks like an innocuous pothole may in fact be a very deep pool that will damage their car perhaps irreparably.  

Aside from those people using the less than satisfactory road infrastructure there are those suffering because of another serious deficit in our national infrastructure and that is proper drainage. On Monday Foroyaa reported that residents of the Churchill’s Town area were inundated with floodwaters following Sunday’s torrential downpour. At the Kahs, on the main road, the water was up to hip level. Some people lost all their household possessions in the flooding. While this was an extreme case many people in other areas have seen huge bodies of water forming as a result of bad drainage. This serves to provide almost perfect breeding conditions for the dreaded vector of malaria the mosquito. This is a serious health risk to the population. Another issue is the flooding of drains. This brings forth into public areas a toxic soup of waste and bacteria infested water. This is also a serious health risk to people living in the affected areas. We are all glad that the rains have come and pray for a successful season for our farmers but we must take note of the myriad problems that come for other citizens during this season. Once we have identified the problems we must remedy them before the next rains come and ensure that the monsoon is only a time of good tidings for the people of The Gambia. 

Forex Bureau Rates:

M J Finance 9965635

Buying

GBP  =        D41.00

US    =         D21.50

5000CFA =  D240.00

EURO =      D32.00

Swedish Kroner D320

Danish Kroner= D400

Selling

GBP   =           D42.50

 US     =              D22.00

5000CFA       D 250.00

EURO            D34.00

Kroner              D350.00

Danish Kroner D430