22 April, 2008

Zainu Bassie, Tombo

Child Labour in Tombo

Tombo is well known for fishing town located outside Freetown with approximately 16;000 residents, half of whom of women and children, and 32.2% of these children are street children.

Tombo fishing wharf is full of different activities, where a lot of different boats slam to discharge their catch while traders sell their local commodities.

According to what Sierra Express gathered, boys between the ages of 7 to 15 are usually playing in the water, some even worked on different boats. Many of them don't have the opportunity to attend school because their parents don't have the fund to sponsor them.

According to constable Michael Mbeteh of the Family Support Unit, FSU at Tombo police post, he said they receive various complaints with the most common ones being absconding children, rape and domestic violence.  He highlighted that in 2003 they received the highest number of rape cases, but that has now decreased due to the intervention of some humanitarian organizations and the Sierra Leone Police.  Constable Mbeteh noted that some parents are negligent because they have no time to look after their children, but with some sensitization and community meeting with the Police and NGOs the situation is changing.

According to Abu Bakarr Sesay a boat captain, he told Sierra Express that they usually drive these children to go home and even flog them, but the most embarrassingly some parents quarrel with them for doing so.

Speaking to Salay Bangura, one parent she said the International Rescue Committee (IRC) have helped them a lot at the Fishing Wharf.

Mohamed Alie Bangura, a class 4 pupil of the SLMB Primary School disclosed that he usually goes to the wharf to find something they can eat for the day and to get lunch, because his father now lives in Makeni with another wife as things are difficult his mother.

Lamin Sesay a class 5 boy said he usually go to his wharf to help fishermen offload their cartons who in return give them a little money or fish which he will sell.

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