By Alie Turay
Passengers to Lungi have on many occasions either missed their flight or face tension at the Kissy Ferry Terminal recently.
This tension at the Kissy terminal has been largely due to the non-performance of the NASSIT ferry that shuttles from Government Wharf to the Lungi terminal, under Sierra Ferries, as it is reported not to be in good working condition.
Yesterday, the 5:30pm ferry at the Kissy Terminal was overloaded and could not contain all the vehicles that wanted to go across to Lungi.
The Minister of Transport and Aviation, Leonard Balogun Koroma, yesterday paid an unannounced visit to the Mahera ferry to look at the safety condition of the ferry and he said that, government is concerned over transport safety conditions.
He said this is one reason that caused him to pay visit to the ferry to look at the working conditions and see its facilities. The Minister disclosed that government will soon provide two ferries to ease the Freetown to Lungi transportation problems.
Passengers who were onboard the ferry, expressed dissatisfaction over the poor condition of the first class section of the ferry, as there is no air-condition facilities and good sanitary system in ferry.
Alie Kamara- a business man onboard the ferry said that though he is happy over the turn-out of passengers but expressed dissatisfaction over the non -functioning of the air condition in the first class. A passenger- Adama Kargbo said that he prefers sitting in the car park of the ferry, rather than sitting at the economy class because the stairs leading to the economy class is not in good order. She also said that the awful smell coming from the toilet is causing discomfort to many.
Another passenger who is travelling out of the country, expressed dissatisfaction that there was no space for his vehicle in the ferry because the ferry is overloaded with vehicles and passengers.
He said that he also finds it difficult to move from west-end to the east end to board the vehicles.