The Weah administration recently took a brave decision that even Liberia most talk about Iron Lady Ellen Johnson Sirleaf did not take to relocated the country’s biggest market, the “Red LIGHT” to Omega Community.
The relocation of the market to Omega Community have since sparked debate among Liberians.
It is rainy season in Liberia and it not strange to see marketers searching for deadly bread in water as most part of the New Omega market is swampy.
President Weah three days ago intervene seeking a two weeks’ grace period from the marketers to allow them get the New Market ground completed.
But the decision of the government to relocate the market without getting the new place ready has left many scratching their head, but the government argues that it will help clean the commercial district.
Amidst all these marketers woke up Monday morning to the news that the government have broken down all of the market structures they have since erected up their arrival at their home.
This action by the government did not go down well with the marketers who on Monday August 2, 2021 stage a protest demanding the Weah administration to leave them alone to sell.
The marketers wave placards with inscriptions; 2023 is coming, we want sell, we don’t want trouble, we are marketers give us respect while others were heard saying that Omega is not prepared to host them.
Addressing reporters, the spokesman of the aggrieved marketers Amos Bility said their protest action is to call the government action to the inhumane treatment melted against them.
Bility explained that when the government ordered them leave RED LIGHT, they obey the government’s order and as such, they are also calling on the government to accord them with some help by allowing them sell where they are until they (government) can finish preparing the Omega Market center.
“We accepted President Weah’s request for a two weeks’ grace period to complete the market, but for the government to invade where we are currently squatting to hustle and damaged our tables is really frustrating” he said.
Bility like many Liberians, wonders why the government even though relocating the entire RED Light Market when they were not prepared for such venture.
Also speaking, Nancy Allison said as they obey the President two weeks request, it will also be prudent enough to allow them along the road and wherever they can sit to sell until the government can complete the market center.
Madam Allison noted that two weeks without selling will lead to serious financial crisis for her and others marketer.
“if we don’t sell then we are finish, we have our children school fees to pay, family needs to eat. We are not refusing to enter Omega but the place is not just conducive for us, the water has taken over the place we can’t sit there to sell” Madam Allison explain.
Madam Allison reminded President Weah that it was through them he ascended to the Presidency and urged him to avoid treating them like nobody.
For his part the former Secretary General of the Federation Petty traders of Liberia Harris Kolubah Flomo, said as they wait for the government to prepare their new selling place, they should also give them chance to sell along the road to find bread for their family.
The political strength of the marketers
It is no secret that the RED LIGHT market was the melting point for Liberian business before the relocation of many of its members.
Its influence on the lives of thousands of people is clear. It started growing during the regime of jailed former President Charles Taylor and expanded beyond capacity during the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf era.
For more than 25 years now, the Red Light market has been a hustle ground for thousands of Liberians, male and female, young and old, University graduate tire of walking around for jobs and successive regime has been cautious about how to handle its affairs.
” This Red Light is the entire country” says an elderly man who was getting ready to move to his new omega market place recently.
During her regime, former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, attempted relocating the RED LIGHT market, but was forced to back off her decision after noticing that more work was needed at the Omega market before such mood is made.
One may say it was failure on her part not to complete the Omega Market project after placing much emphasis on it when she was seeking a second term in 2011.
The Weah administrator have now succeeded in doing just that with red light now partially clear.
It was glaring fact that the decision was taken without a plan given the appalling condition in which marketers can be seen selling.
But the Weah led government seems to be aware of how costly will it be politically if nothing is done to settle the current Omega impasse.
President Weah has twice visited the area and his government has been exerting efforts to ensure that the anger of the marketers does not go high to that would cost the Mr. Weah his second term.
The Ministry of Public works and Internal Affairs working day-in-day out to ensure that Omega is ready to host the thousands of Liberian who used to depend on Red Light for survival.
