Following media reports about the indiscriminate dumping of waste at the Brikama Car Park, the management of the Brikama Area Council (BAC) Thursday convened a stakeholders’ meeting to find ways and means of addressing the problem.

The public relations officer of BAC, Modou Jonga told the Daily Observer Friday that a meeting was convened by the management of BAC in an effort to put an end to the indiscriminate waste dumping in the car park in partnership with relevant stakeholders in the region, who are direct beneficiaries of the car park. Jonga said the meeting has proven the Council’s resolve to promptly respond to the concerns of the people. He added that a clean and hygienic environment is a top-priority of his council.

He described waste management and disposal as expensive areas taking into account the vast area that the Environmental & Sanitation Unit of the Council covers, coupled with rapid urbanisation. While appealing for the collaboration of stakeholders’ in the region in controlling or minimising the high rate of indiscriminate waste dumping, Jonga called on the people to be committed to controlling the waste they generate in their homes.

He vowed that BAC will always be committed to keeping the car park clean and hygienic, citing the Council's allocation of a tractor to collect waste on daily basis from the car park, the posting of over a dozen women tasked to clean the car park daily, and  three guards to prevent indiscriminate waste dumping at night to back his statement. Jonga urged the people of the area to try and comply with the Council's orders by disposing waste in designated places, and warned that anyone caught dumping waste indiscriminately in the car park or at any unidentified place will face the wrath of the law.

Jonga disclosed that at the meeting, it was agreed that all fruit sellers at the garage will now move to the ‘Sandika’ and stop selling at the car park with immediate effect. He further disclosed that the stakeholders, which include the two transport bodies at the Brikama Car Park, security apparatus, executive committee of Brikama ‘Sandika’, and Brikama Nema Council of Elders amongst others all pledged their commitment to halt indiscriminate waste dumping and work in unison for the good of the car park.