Residents of Old Soloken Town in Pleebo-Sodokeh District are now feeling betrayed after a newly installed community water system, which Representative Anthony F. Williams, championed had broken down just one month after it was turned over for use by the locals.
The failure has reignited frustration in the town of about 1,000 residents, where access to safe drinking water has long been a daily struggle.
During an inspection visit, Town Chief Benedict G. Gbotoe said, the water project was welcomed with joy when it was completed, and dedicated, but that celebration did not last.
”Within one month, the system developed technical problems, and stopped working completely. Now our people are back to suffering.”
Chief Gbotoe described the breakdown as part of what some residents referred to as: “political deception;” promises made during the 2023 elections that have not translated into lasting services.
Rep. Williams won the 2023 Representative seat for District #2 by just 81 votes over former Speaker Bhofal Chambers in a race that was closely monitored in Maryland County.
Before the new project, Old Soloken depended on only five functioning hand pumps for its entire population.
With the new system now down, pressures on those few functioning pumps have increased to the extent that many of the locals now fetch water from “unsafe creeks, and wells.”
“Safe drinking water is one of our biggest problems here. Mothers wake up at 3: a.m. to fetch water. Children are missing school because they have walk distances for water before they get ready for school. We were hoping that this suffering will end soon.”
By that, Chief Gbotoe has called on government, humanitarian organizations, and development partners to urgently repair the damaged system, and install additional, hand pumps to meet the growing demand for safe water.
He also raised concern about healthcare, because the only facility is yet to be officially turned over to the Ministry of Health for use.
Residents say, they voted for change, and development in 2023, but one year later, they are still struggling without the expected same basic needs.
The office of Rep. Williams has not yet commented publicly on the breakdown of the water project.
