“It’s time to stop the replastering solutions[…]Our merchants and our citizens deserve better.”(Ma Diakhate Niang).

Yet another fire broke out this Wednesday around 5 a.m. at the central market in Thiès. This disaster has yet left no one indifferent, notably the president of the Citizen Alternative/And Sopi Thiès, Ma Diakhate Niang, who wanted to express his serious concerns. “It is with deep sadness and deep concern that I learned of the fire which ravaged part of the central market, causing considerable losses to traders and endangering their livelihoods. I express my solidarity with all the victims of this tragedy and salute their courage in the face of this ordeal. I also salute the remarkable work of the firefighters, who, at the risk of their lives, mobilized to contain the flames and limit the damage. dedication deserve all our acknowledgement.
However, this new incident highlights, once again, the limits of our market infrastructures and the urgency of real modernization. It is time to stop patchwork solutions, miserabilist speeches and unambitious projects. Our merchants and citizens deserve better,” he said.

According to him, it is time to move on to “market modernization”. And this requires courage and self-sacrifice. “I call on the authorities to have the courage to intervene to resolve this problem at the root, including by taking difficult but necessary decisions, such as moving traders to modern infrastructure that will offer them better working conditions and safety. My recommendations:
1. Implement an ambitious market modernization plan, • Build modern markets, equipped with secure infrastructure to prevent fires (fire-fighting systems, fire extinguishers, water networks available).
* Create well-organized, ventilated spaces that meet hygiene standards to guarantee the safety and health of users. • Set up an electrical system that meets standards to avoid short circuits, often the cause of these tragedies. 2. Provide modern infrastructure to the population. • Create markets connected to modern management networks. • Integrate secure and accessible storage spaces to protect goods. • Install organized parking areas to facilitate access and transport of goods. • Build designated areas for waste with an ecological management system to protect the environment. 3. Temporarily relocate traders in decent conditions, • Provide organized transitional spaces to allow traders to continue their activities without major interruption.
* Ensure clear communication and support to facilitate this process. 4. Provide immediate support for affected traders, • Establish an emergency support fund to help traders restart their activities. • Offer microcredits at preferential rates to help them get back on their feet.
Our markets must no longer be precarious spaces, synonymous with risks for their users. They must become modern and adapted places, reflecting our ambitions for progress and development.”

Before concluding “I am not asking for the impossible, but simply what our fellow citizens deserve. The time is no longer for wait-and-see behavior. I urge the competent authorities to take their responsibilities and take concrete action to make markets a pillar of our local economy in dignified and secure conditions.”