Folks, this is not coming from us, but from folks on the ground. Gassama,
did you forget to bring this one to our attention or can we assume that your
job is just to spin and spin only? I know you have an appetite for "Cheb Bu
Toi", -:)! But please acknowledge that we are at the brink of a disaster.
Please read on.
Chi Jaama
Joe Sambou
Are We On the Brink of Economic Collapse?
The Independent (Banjul)
EDITORIAL
November 11, 2002
Posted to the web November 11, 2002
Banjul
In recent times Gambians are on the verge of an economic catastrophe, which
if not addressed with immediacy will eventually lead us to a disastrous
edge.
Prices are rising on a day-to-day basis and the dalasis is plunging downward
against all international currencies at an alarming rate. What used to be
the strongest currency in our sub-region is now the laughing stock of the
day.
The Independent raised this issue with a senior officer of the foreign
department of the Central Bank of The Gambia but he refused to comment, in
anyway referring us to the Governor of the bank who was inaccessible.
The Government of The Gambia should view this situation with all the
emergency it deserves. In terms of the hike in prices we are here not
considering the rise in the prices of luxury items, but those basic
commodities, for our daily needs such as rice, flour, fish, meat, sugar
vegetables and you name the rest.
Today a bag of rice costs nearly D300 whilst the price of a bag of sugar has
doubled to over D400. Potatoes, flour, butter and all our locally produced
items such as vegetables have steeply increased in price.
Salaries are stagnant because raising them at this stage of the country's
economic decline would only lead to a serious inflationary trend.
What then is in store for The Gambia's future socio economic survival?
Clearly the government should start a public relations campaign whereby the
average citizens will be made to understand fully what is in the offing and
how to actually tackle this disquieting state of affairs.
Recently it was announced by the Central Bank that only registered money
dealers are allowed to change foreign currency into dalasis or vice versa.
This is being violated at a blatant rate today with moneychangers crowded in
the Greater Banjul Area's major highway, markets and the ferry terminal.
Today even if one wants to buy goods in bulk, traders tend to ask for
foreign currency particularly the CFA in terms of payment.
Whither goes The Gambia?
As of now many people are differing their naming ceremonies and weddings and
many family compounds go for days on end without proper and decent meals, as
was the case in the past.
Yahya Jammeh's regime should now stand on a sure footing to redress this
chaotic economic condition. It should stop expressing the notion that The
Gambia is a free trading nation and instead intervene directly and liaise
with the major economic players so that even if prices are on an increasing
edge they should be controlled in such a way that the average Gambian would
not suffer as currently happening.
The Independent is certainly of the view that something must be done to
forestall a trend, which may lead to unavoidable circumstances, which nobody
would like to see happening now.
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