The Chief’s Diary: Shopping in Lumley Market with my daughter
Yesterday, I was on air when a radio presenter asked me if I knew the price of a cup of rice in the market, I said I didnt. I realized that it had been a long time since I went to the market. As leaders, I do believe we must be always closer to the people. So today, I took my daughter Kadija with me to shop at Lumley Market. And I am now able to answer the question I was asked yesterday. The price of a cup of rice at Lumley varies from Nle 4 to Nle 10 depending on the brand of rice (the most expensive being the imported “fen-fen” 100% broken rice).
I also learned that it’s the customers who have rejected the newly introduced standard cup introduced by Standards Bureau because it is too big (a point raised yesterday as well). They want a smaller size that matches their pocket size. I understand that too. So I’ll encourage Standards Bureau to introduce a smaller standard sized cup as well.
Lumley Market is hot. Sanitation is poor. The traders say the Freetown City Council only engages them constructively when it’s time to collect dues. The demand of the market women is simple- they want to move to the newly constructed Lumley Market that President Bio has built asap. I assured them that together #WeWillDeliver.
When I was growing up in Bo, I would sometimes join my mother to go to the market. I loved that my daughter Kadija was able to share this experience with me today. Hearing the stories of school boys and girls in the market, young men grinding cassava leaves and elderly women sharing their aspirations of our country, I am filled with hope. Things are hard in the world right now, we are trying our best to protect our citizens and listen to them. I know that together #WeWillDeliver on our shared vision of a middle income country by 2039.
Yesterday, I was on air when a radio presenter asked me if I knew the price of a cup of rice in the market, I said I didnt. I realized that it had been a long time since I went to the market. As leaders, I do believe we must be always closer to the people. So today, I took my daughter Kadija with me to shop at Lumley Market. And I am now able to answer the question I was asked yesterday. The price of a cup of rice at Lumley varies from Nle 4 to Nle 10 depending on the brand of rice (the most expensive being the imported “fen-fen” 100% broken rice).
I also learned that it’s the customers who have rejected the newly introduced standard cup introduced by Standards Bureau because it is too big (a point raised yesterday as well). They want a smaller size that matches their pocket size. I understand that too. So I’ll encourage Standards Bureau to introduce a smaller standard sized cup as well.
Lumley Market is hot. Sanitation is poor. The traders say the Freetown City Council only engages them constructively when it’s time to collect dues. The demand of the market women is simple- they want to move to the newly constructed Lumley Market that President Bio has built asap. I assured them that together #WeWillDeliver.
When I was growing up in Bo, I would sometimes join my mother to go to the market. I loved that my daughter Kadija was able to share this experience with me today. Hearing the stories of school boys and girls in the market, young men grinding cassava leaves and elderly women sharing their aspirations of our country, I am filled with hope. Things are hard in the world right now, we are trying our best to protect our citizens and listen to them. I know that together #WeWillDeliver on our shared vision of a middle income country by 2039.
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