KMC Mayor Blames Market Disaster  On Devils!!!!

By Staff Writer Fatoumatta Gittae, Banjul

A top official of the Kanifing Municipal Council says the Serre Kunda Market fire disaster was the “handiwork of the devil.” Mayor Yankuba Colley was speaking in an interview with the Freedom Newspaper, shortly after the blaze, which ravages a significant part of the town’s main shopping center. “ The market blaze was kind of mysterious. Each year, around December 26 or 27, the Serre Kunda market would be burnt down. This has been happening repeatedly. I think the burning of the market is the handiwork of the devil.” Colley tells our reporter Saturday.

An estimated amount of seven million dalasi worth of goods, were destroyed during the hour long blaze, which brought traffic to standstill. Business activities were brought to halt as a result of the fire incident. Rescue workers from the Fire and Ambulance Services could be seen making frantic efforts to doze off the fire. It took the firemen about three hours before they could put off the fire.

The fire broke out around the vicinity of the Bakau road, where traders lined up textiles materials, among other things. It later escalated and destroyed a significant amount of merchandise and cash.

Speaking to the Freedom Newspaper, Mayor Colley explained that the fire started at 3 am. He said he was informed about the incident. He says he was shocked by the destruction caused by the blaze.

According to Mayor Colley, a Brufut woman had in the past approached him and advised that they needed to take out a charity in order to chase out the devil from the market. “In the past year, she came and it did not happen, but the old woman is dead and it has happened again this year. She comes from Sanimenthereng and we believe there is something in it. We can’t understand why the market should burn this way. Imagine all the second hand clothing  have burnt away and many valuable goods burnt away too," he said.

Mayor Colley blames the continuous fire disaster on evil spirit and said they believe that the fire had emanated from the cotton tree very close to the market to cause the havoc.

He laments “We have been battling with building the old place that was burnt then, this has happened again.”

The Serrekunda Market was in the early hours of today consummated by fire that ravaged the back side of the market from the cotton tree side on the road to Bakau where second hand clothing are often spread on the  road. And the loses cannot still be ascertain.

Many people this reporter spoke with especially Ebrima Jammeh, an elderly man blames the fire on the devils too. He said because the fire has been persistent and something should be done.

In other fire incidents at the same market, over four time now, were blamed on poor wiring and stern warning had been sent to traders to avoid self electrification which they said is the cause of the fire. "When this poor connections spark, there is fire at once and no one would be there," says Fatou Bittaye, a market woman. Others have been quick to blame the fire scenario on the poor planning of the ,market from the onset. "The Mayor is quick to condemn the fire incident blaming it on devil to only to distract the president's attention from what I call lazy attitude on the part of KMC. It is virtually their fault and no devil is responsible. This is primitive and outdated, an excuse in turbulent times for the traders. Traders properties are to be protected like human lives but KMC has continued to fail us. This is awful, my sister," he said.

The area was sealed off since in the morning hours, with some para military parading as if they had caught the devil, disturbing all the people and vehicles. Some people said openly in anger but refused to be mentioned. The traders are suggesting for a proper construction of the market with satisfied wiring done before they are satisfied that their properties will not perish any more.

The outside of the building towards Bakau got burnt and  things burnt in without the fire going there. Many say it is the heat that worked on it. Many others want to involve big marabous to stop the so call devil from burning the place. If it is so then many believe that many marabous would have a lot of work to do before the spirit can be got rid of.

Many people this reporter spoke with especially Ebrima Jammeh, an elderly man blamed it on the devils too. He said because the fire has been persistent and something should be done.

It could be recalled that Baboucarr Sankanu, a journalist was one time detained for reporting on the market's burning. He was later released without any charges brought against him. This was during the military junta.