This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/7610267.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Sierra Leone's ghetto taxpayers | Sierra Leone's ghetto taxpayers |
(about 7 hours later) | |
By Katrina Manson BBC News, Freetown | By Katrina Manson BBC News, Freetown |
It is everything you might expect of a ghetto: tumbledown shacks, listless young men, the fug of marijuana hanging in the air, graffiti sprayed on crumbling walls. | It is everything you might expect of a ghetto: tumbledown shacks, listless young men, the fug of marijuana hanging in the air, graffiti sprayed on crumbling walls. |
But this is a ghetto with a difference. | But this is a ghetto with a difference. |
The chains that dangle around the necks of the handful of local loiterers are not the customary gangsta dog tags, but plastic holders displaying nothing less than tax receipts. | The chains that dangle around the necks of the handful of local loiterers are not the customary gangsta dog tags, but plastic holders displaying nothing less than tax receipts. |
For the first time in generations, people have been flocking to pay their local council tax of 5,000 leones (about $1.5, 90 UK pence) in the Sierra Leonean capital, Freetown. | For the first time in generations, people have been flocking to pay their local council tax of 5,000 leones (about $1.5, 90 UK pence) in the Sierra Leonean capital, Freetown. |
"I don't have a job, but I have paid my tax," said Mohamed Bangura, 38, at the crumbling steps of what was once sub-Saharan Africa's first university - the wreck of the old Fourah Bay College. | "I don't have a job, but I have paid my tax," said Mohamed Bangura, 38, at the crumbling steps of what was once sub-Saharan Africa's first university - the wreck of the old Fourah Bay College. |
"This is the first time I've done this: I want to improve my country, I want it to develop." | "This is the first time I've done this: I want to improve my country, I want it to develop." |
Locals carry tax receipts in holders around their necks | Locals carry tax receipts in holders around their necks |
The area in Cline Town near the docks of the capital's deprived east end is locally referred to as a ghetto, and panbody (corrugated zinc) shacks around the perimeter sell sweet fermenting poyo (palm wine) to the young people gathered around. | The area in Cline Town near the docks of the capital's deprived east end is locally referred to as a ghetto, and panbody (corrugated zinc) shacks around the perimeter sell sweet fermenting poyo (palm wine) to the young people gathered around. |
Sierra Leone is struggling to rebuild following its 1991-2002 civil war, in which more than 50,000 were killed and infrastructure and businesses devastated. | Sierra Leone is struggling to rebuild following its 1991-2002 civil war, in which more than 50,000 were killed and infrastructure and businesses devastated. |
Erratic supplies of water and light, bad roads and poor access to health and education are among the problems faced by more than a million people in the capital of this former British colony, which is ranked the least developed country in the world by the United Nations. | Erratic supplies of water and light, bad roads and poor access to health and education are among the problems faced by more than a million people in the capital of this former British colony, which is ranked the least developed country in the world by the United Nations. |
Death rates for children under five and mothers giving birth are higher than anywhere else on the globe, and 70% of the population lives below the poverty line. | Death rates for children under five and mothers giving birth are higher than anywhere else on the globe, and 70% of the population lives below the poverty line. |
"To see unemployed people paying taxes has surprised a lot of people," said Herbert George-Williams, the new mayor. | "To see unemployed people paying taxes has surprised a lot of people," said Herbert George-Williams, the new mayor. |
"But the people are desirous for a change. We were able to talk with the unemployed and convince them they should pay their taxes to show their patriotism." | "But the people are desirous for a change. We were able to talk with the unemployed and convince them they should pay their taxes to show their patriotism." |
Symbol of decline | Symbol of decline |
The red brick ruins of the once-elegant Fourah Bay College stand as a testament to how far Freetown has fallen, a snapshot of faded prestige and modern poverty side by side. | The red brick ruins of the once-elegant Fourah Bay College stand as a testament to how far Freetown has fallen, a snapshot of faded prestige and modern poverty side by side. |
Established in 1827, a link-up with Durham University in 1876 meant Freetown graduates were awarded UK degrees. | Established in 1827, a link-up with Durham University in 1876 meant Freetown graduates were awarded UK degrees. |
The university became the intellectual cornerstone of Sierra Leone, earning the country its long-lost moniker as the "Athens of West Africa". | The university became the intellectual cornerstone of Sierra Leone, earning the country its long-lost moniker as the "Athens of West Africa". |
I paid the tax because I want to rehabilitate the country Salu Koroma, 28 | I paid the tax because I want to rehabilitate the country Salu Koroma, 28 |
The 1860 census showed levels of education surpassing some European countries. | The 1860 census showed levels of education surpassing some European countries. |
This was attributed to the zeal of missionary societies, combined with the enthusiasm shown by the Krio families descended from freed slaves who founded Freetown in 1787. | This was attributed to the zeal of missionary societies, combined with the enthusiasm shown by the Krio families descended from freed slaves who founded Freetown in 1787. |
But standards have dropped precipitously since then. | But standards have dropped precipitously since then. |
At 31%, Sierra Leone's current adult literacy rate is one of the lowest in the world, and the gender divide is marked - only 18% of women can read. | At 31%, Sierra Leone's current adult literacy rate is one of the lowest in the world, and the gender divide is marked - only 18% of women can read. |
Today, the former bastion of academia's gutted shell is something of a ghost. | Today, the former bastion of academia's gutted shell is something of a ghost. |
During the civil war, it became a shelter for displaced people fleeing attackers who amputated limbs with machetes and child soldiers armed with Kalashnikovs, until one day a fire burnt through the wooden floors. | During the civil war, it became a shelter for displaced people fleeing attackers who amputated limbs with machetes and child soldiers armed with Kalashnikovs, until one day a fire burnt through the wooden floors. |
"We have no work; nothing to do, no sleeping place," said Salu Koroma, 28, at the entrance to the old university, whose modern campuses have since moved elsewhere in the capital. | "We have no work; nothing to do, no sleeping place," said Salu Koroma, 28, at the entrance to the old university, whose modern campuses have since moved elsewhere in the capital. |
"But I want to make my country develop. I paid the tax because I want to rehabilitate the country." | "But I want to make my country develop. I paid the tax because I want to rehabilitate the country." |
Record revenue | Record revenue |
Mr George-Williams is all too aware that improvements are needed to help secure stability and improved standards of living. | Mr George-Williams is all too aware that improvements are needed to help secure stability and improved standards of living. |
"We are worried about unemployment because these were some of the symptoms before the war," he said. | "We are worried about unemployment because these were some of the symptoms before the war," he said. |
Two-thirds of Sierra Leone's youth are estimated to be unemployed or under-employed, though some of those in Cline Town manage to raise money through casual work or jobs on the black market. | Two-thirds of Sierra Leone's youth are estimated to be unemployed or under-employed, though some of those in Cline Town manage to raise money through casual work or jobs on the black market. |
Renewed fervour to banish the city's degradation is reaching beyond one ghetto, however. | Renewed fervour to banish the city's degradation is reaching beyond one ghetto, however. |
The old Fourah Bay College building is now a gutted ruin | The old Fourah Bay College building is now a gutted ruin |
Elsewhere in Freetown, loudspeakers encourage people to pay up and tax-collectors go door-to-door, while queues of tax-payers have been seen to form at the city council. | Elsewhere in Freetown, loudspeakers encourage people to pay up and tax-collectors go door-to-door, while queues of tax-payers have been seen to form at the city council. |
The council has so far collected a bumper 3bn leones (about $880,000, £500,000) in six months - surpassing the old record of 1m leones (about $317,000, £180,000) in a whole year. | |
"This year we have a record payment here for the past four or five generations. It's an ongoing process, but we have actually exceeded our target," said Mr George-Williams. | "This year we have a record payment here for the past four or five generations. It's an ongoing process, but we have actually exceeded our target," said Mr George-Williams. |
"Everything rises and falls on leadership," he said of the country, ranked 150 on Transparency International's corruption perceptions index. | "Everything rises and falls on leadership," he said of the country, ranked 150 on Transparency International's corruption perceptions index. |
So far, the city council has started building public toilets, supplying piped water to marketplaces and fixing up some of the roads, employing up to 800 casual labourers at a time. | So far, the city council has started building public toilets, supplying piped water to marketplaces and fixing up some of the roads, employing up to 800 casual labourers at a time. |
The mayor said he also wanted to spend the taxes - which also come from small shopkeepers and businesses charged as much as 500,000 leones (about $160, £91) each - on building schools, cleaning the city and repairing roads. | The mayor said he also wanted to spend the taxes - which also come from small shopkeepers and businesses charged as much as 500,000 leones (about $160, £91) each - on building schools, cleaning the city and repairing roads. |
If he does not deliver on his glut of proposals, he has promised to resign. | If he does not deliver on his glut of proposals, he has promised to resign. |