By Prince J Musa in Kenema
Residents of Simbeck Section in Kenema City have taken issues with the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA) over persistent blackout. The community people say EDSA, alongside the construction company PAVI-FORT, are responsible for the situation and that they have been treating their concerns with levity.
According to the residents, since a vehicle of the company’s hit two electric poles some three weeks ago and caused the blackout, they have had to go without light throughout the period.
"The machine of PAVI-FORT hit the electric poles along Dama Road. This incident occurred over three weeks ago and nothing has been said about it by either EDSA or the company,” explained Mohamed Amara Koroma, a concerned resident who lives at Dama Road.
"We have been in total blackout for over three and half weeks now and some of our people need light to sell cold water for their survival," he added.
Koroma said they have reported the matter to city Council, in addition to EDSA, who haven’t done anything about it.
"EDSA has not gone on air to tell us anything about the light issue in our area and we are suffering," he stated.
Fatimata Jalloh, a business woman who resides within the same environs, said she depends on electricity to engage in small business to support her family.
Ms Jalloh has already ran into serious losses after a consignment of her business - Yogot, ice cream and ginger – which she had just prepared and placed in the freezer before the power cut, went bad.
"We are begging EDSA to address this problem for us," she appealed.
In an interview with the Public Relations officer of PAVI-FORT in Kenema, Samuel Obba Navo, he told Politico that they have nothing to do with the problem as a company.
"That problem lies with city council, district council, SLRA and EDSA, not the company,” he said.
"We have told the council and they have met with EDSA. It’s now left with them to resolve it,” he added.
When contacted, the Mayor of Kenema City, Thomas Karimu Baio, said on the telephone that the responsibility is EDSA’s.
"EDSA is like local council, as they stand on their own. If EDSA goes bad, it is not the council,” he said, adding: "Council is there to ginger them up to do what they are supposed to do.
Mayor Baio further stated: "I know the damages caused by PAVI-FORT. I have been behind EDSA to fix the light up in that area.
Mayor Baio stressed that the company must take responsibility for the damage.
But the Area Superintendent of EDSA in Kenema, Musa Ngavoa, blamed the delay in fixing the problem on PAVI-FORT, which he said is responsible to provide the poles.
"By Friday, we are hoping that the problem with light for Simbeck Area will be solved," he said, adding: "We have sent our men at the site to start doing some work as the poles will be here soon."
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