Operation 'Shift Back'

Operation 'Shift Back' has been requested by both the new Minister of Trade & Industry, Alimamy P Koroma. So says, Gibrilla Turay, a.k.a. Prezo Gibo of the Sierra Leone Traders Union.

Operation Shift Back is all about ensuring that street traders move their stalls back from the major streets of Freetown. Over the years, encroachment onto main roads has been on the increase, which means less space for drivers and other road users.

Under the past regime, the Sierra Leone Police organised Operation Free Flow, which had a similar goal. Encroachment has been driven by the fierce competition in the retail industry. Traders need to be close to the customers or they will lose out to the next trader in line.

Operation Shift Back is focused on Freetown for now.

Let's put things in perspective. Based on the Household Survey of 2004, almost 65% of Sierra Leoneans are engaged in retailing of some sort. This means the livelihood of thousands depends on the industry.

One of the constraints faced by the traders is that prices of goods they retail can be found in shops at the same retail prices so the traders try hard to get to them first - before they even get out of their cars.

With the new government in place, it seems a new attempt, using the Traders Union this time, will try and resolve these issues once and for all. There are markets available and more planned but the traders are reluctant to use them.

As Gibo puts it, "if you have the same group of people importing, wholesaling and retailing at the same time, we are left stranded if we go into markets. A new law would need to be introduced that prohibits the same person from wholesaling and retailing too."

Operation 'Shift Back' is due to be launched on Monday the 12th with the blessing and backing of the Minister of Trade and Industry.

Will it work this time? Have your say!