24 April, 2008

Abu Bakarr Tarawally, Pepel Island

From Pepel with Tears

Life at Pepel Island is a travesty depicting a much derailing picture of poverty.

Pepel Island lays some 15 miles along the historic river Rokel, from the capital city, Freetown. The island had enjoyed safe history of a rich cultural background with a high advantage of literacy potentials amongst her offspring.

Just opposite the monumental Bunce Island, the host of the slavery cave some decades ago, the island is a tourist attraction.

Over the centuries, the island was used as a fishing spot where fishing vessels were harbored and catches landed. Fishing for this purpose has been a source of livelihood for most of the residents in this part of the country.

Pepel Island is found in the north coast of Sierra Leone in the Lokomasama Chiefdom, Port Loko District.

Pepel is densely populated with about 400 inhabitants. The island is blessed with resourceful offspring who have variously worked in different works of life with different achievements. But it seems though that much effort has not been concerted to foster development to improve the socio-economic lifestyle of the residents.

As far as the youths are concerned much is to be done to bring a sigh of relief to the Pepel people. A cross section of the youths that I came across told me life is hell on the island, but it will interest you to know that most of the inhabitants love not to leave the island for any other place.

An elderly person I spoke to told me the fortunes of the island had remained static following the closure of the Marampa Iron Ore Mines Company in the 1970s. It could be recalled that Pepel Island was the conduit through which the iron ore deposits were transported abroad. Following the closure of the company, the means of getting jobs became non existent especially for the youths and the once congested bustling fast moving burgeoning city degenerated. Life within the immediate 70s to the early 80s is not comparable to the present time as the situation unfolds.

In my recent snap visits to Pepel, I observed the residents wallowing in abject poverty and squalor. Youths are hardly bearing pleasant countenances. Nerves are stretched taut on their arms, and their limbs are prominently protruded.

Most young ladies who should be in school have become girl mothers. The island has an alarming growing rate of maternal and child morbidity; since health care facilities are not readily available.

The life expectancy is as low as fifty while many die at age 30 and below. The poor health and sanitary conditions are threatening. There are very few water wells and taps and the residents are faced with pure water drinking constrains.

The one and only health centre is almost not functional. When the people fall ill the alternative means of treatment is herbal therapy.

Last week Friday, April 18 witnessed President Ernest Bai Koroma's visit to Pepel Island to inaugurate the newly constructed Shemgbeh Bridge that forms the link between Pepel and its environs. The ceremony witnessed rich cultural performances by traditional dancers, much food and booze flowed. When they left the people wore back their morose and woe begotten look, fearful of what tomorrow may bring for them.

However now that the mines have started to hum again there is hope that dreams may get fulfilment.

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