By Davida Spaine-Solomon
Freetown, 29th January 2026- After years of gathering dust, the long-abandoned “seaweed barber” a specialised beach-cleaning machine once hailed as a breakthrough for Freetown’s coastline, is finally being repaired in a renewed push to restore Aberdeen-Lumley Beach.
Commissioned in October 2020 by the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the National Tourism Board and supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the machine was part of a package that included a tractor and plaque unveiling. The initiative was celebrated as a major boost to sanitation and tourism at one of the city’s most popular recreational spaces.
But instead of transforming beach cleaning, the seaweed barber sat idle at the Tourism Board office, unused and deteriorating. Its neglect sparked frustration among environmental advocates and beachgoers, who saw wasted resources and worsening pollution along the shore.
The issue resurfaced in January when Trevor Young, digital creator and founder of Salone to the Top, highlighted the machine’s abandonment. Young, who leads a community-driven beach cleanup project, revealed that the equipment had been idle since its purchase, even as waste problems grew.
Tourism Board officials later encouraged Young to explore repair options. He disclosed that towing the tractor to Shalimar’s workshop for assessment would cost Le1,600, while the seaweed barber’s manufacturer has already provided schematics and agreed to conduct a remote technical evaluation.
“They are ready to guide us through the repair process,” Young explained. “What we need now is a local engineer to work with them so the machine can be fully restored.”
National Tourism Board General Manager Fatmata Carew confirmed the machine was acquired under a UNDP-supported project and clarified that it was designed specifically for clearing seaweed, not general waste. She noted that plastics, bottles, and other debris mixed with seaweed had strained the machine, while the salty coastal environment further damaged its components.
“The machine was never meant to handle heavy dirt and rubbish mixed with seaweed,” Carew said. “That affected its performance and led to faults.”
Despite these setbacks, Carew assured the public that repair works are underway and modifications are being explored to expand the machine’s capacity beyond seaweed removal. She emphasized that keeping Aberdeen–Lumley Beach clean requires collective responsibility.
“This is not the responsibility of the Tourism Board alone,” she said. “Strong partnerships with communities, volunteers, private sector actors, and development partners are essential to keeping our beaches clean and sustainable.”
As repairs begin and collaboration deepens, many hope the seaweed barber will soon return to service, marking a turning point in the fight to restore and preserve Aberdeen–Lumley Beach for future generations.
