By Mabinty M. Kamara
Citizens across Freetown have expressed excitement over the move by President Julius Maada to relax the 10-hour curfew by two hours. The curfew is now from 11pm to 6am.
The move was announced on Tuesday at a special press briefing at State House, where the president also announced the relaxation of several other restrictions.
“In all our decisions during this crisis, we have aimed to save lives but we have also worked to sustain livelihoods, support the most vulnerable, and keep our key economic and human capital development sectors healthy,” Bio said, noting that his government’s considerations have been driven by “copious real-time data.” He said they would continue to closely monitor data and pay attention to advice from the scientific community.
The curfew has been one of the most contentious issues among other restrictions, especially in Freetown, which is the main hub of business in the country.
Citizens had repeatedly called for the relaxation of the curfew due to many factors, mainly transportation constraints.
Alpha Kamara, a Keke rider along Sanda Street in Freetown, said that the two hours reduction meant a lot for people in his trade.
“The reduction of the curfew time is a great move by the president because this is what we have been crying for. We are happy for the two hours extension within that time, at least you would have done some movement if the traffic doesn’t disturb. We hope that the curfew will soon be removed permanently so that we can go back to our normal lives,” he said.
Kamara stressed that the curfew and the reduction of a passenger from their normal capacity have been the greatest challenge they faced as a result of the anti-Covid-19 measures.
“We have the Police to deal with on the street. We have to pay to our masters, beside the fuel and at the same time we have to take care of our families. So you see all these things have been affected seriously,” he said.
Joseph Kamanda, a Poda Poda driver at the Regent Bus Park, along Wallace Johnson Street, like Alpha, was very happy to hear the news of the curfew relaxation, although he expected more.
“At least our voices have been heard, but many of us were expecting it was going to be from 12pm to 5am, because that is how we make profit by staying long on the street,” he said, adding: “With the curfew, at times it is even difficult to buy fuel and meet the other commitments. We thank God for the relaxation but we want this curfew order to be removed.”
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