Several marketers in the commercial hub of Omega in Paynesville staged a protest on Friday, February 27, 2026.
They demanded the immediate removal of a huge garbage in the area.
The aggrieved marketers, most of whom are plantain, bitter ball, and pepper sellers, said the mounting wastes at the “Ellen Building” in the market, poses a serious health risk to their well-being.
They said, since they relocated from the Red-light Market in 2021, there has been no effort by the market’s management or the Paynesville City Corporation (PCC) to clear the wastes.
The group spokesperson, Bendu Kamara, alleged that each vendor was requested to pay L$500 to the Omega Market Superintendent, Jallah McClain, to remove the garbage, but said, nothing of such has been done.
Bendu said, the superintendent is yet to account for the amount collected.
She emphasized that the deteriorating environment has caused customers to go away, leaving their business to move at a slow pace.
“This dirt business started since we came from Red-light in 2021. We are selling, but do not have the chance to do business well. We are not in peace; we are eating at a place where flies are all over, and our health matters. Customers are running away from this area, because of the dirt. Our businesses are not even going. The market superintendent collected L$500 from each of us and said, he was going to make sure the garage is removed, but we are not seeing anything like that”, Madam Kamara said.
The Omega marketers have meanwhile, called on government through PCC to speedily intervene and address their plights.
They promised to intensify their protest in the coming days if the relevant authorities refuse to remove the mountain of dirt.
“Our message to the PCC here is; we are asking them to come and take the dirt, because we are getting sick from it.”
Meanwhile, when contacted, Supt. McClain denied allegations of collecting money from marketers for the removal of the garbage.
McClain said, he has only been conducting follow-ups to determine the cost of facilitating the removal of the wastes. According to him, only regular table fees have been collected.
“Nobody has ever collected L$500 for garbage. Before you collect money, you need to do research or bring people who know about garbage disposal. How will you collect money from people when you do not know the garbage loads that will be carried.”
- Roland James/ knewsonline.com