Gambian Businesswomen have lamented over the growing concern of price swing in commodities in the market of the country.
Speaking to The Voice Fatou Badjan, a fish seller at Serrekunda market said the prices of fish is unstable in the market, its sometimes high or low on how we purchase or sell our fishes due to its different categories but it’s very expensive and we find it so hard to sell it out in order to gain profit because we used the same profit to buy ice blocks to freeze our fishes because we don’t make sales for four days sometimes and it’s not helping our business at all she lamented.
She said: “I have been in the industry for years now although we faced a lot of challenges here but we have endured a lot because our customers mount a lot of pressure on us by saying that we sell our fishes in our favour just to gain more profit for instance a customer will ask for the price of fish, if its high or expensive she will walk away saying all sorts of things to us.”
She added that they are affected with the current situation in the market because it’s dishearten and stressful to note that the government has done absolutely nothing to help with the current situation in the industry. Business is not booming since the Barrow led government assumed power.
She further urged the government to put up mechanisms in controlling the prices of commodities in the country and to reduce the high cost of tax on them.
For her part Jai Jatta, who has over 3 decades in vegetable business now, said that the Revenue Authority has imposed high cost of taxation on importation and reselling of goods?
She pointed out that they faced a lot of challenges in buying and selling of vegetables and our customers on the other hand pressurize us to bring down the prices which is not favourable for us when there is no or enough vegetables for us to sell to them.
“We are appealing to the government to put us into consideration and at least bring down the tax rate on us,” she said.
Fatou Kine Jammeh a cosmetologist at the market also expressed in grief that business in not booming now due to the current situation in the market as the Christmas is fast approaching
She said: “we have been here since in the morning but no sale has been made, customers are still yet to come for their shopping.”
She further explained that the price of products is unstable in the market due the exchange rate, adding that the suppliers earn more than their gains.
She appealed that: “the government should come up with governmental restrictions on the prices that can be charged for goods.’’
Mrs Awa Keita who is also a businesswoman at the Serrekunda market made mention of the challenges and difficulties they faced and hard times they are currently going through just to earn a living in the industry as parents as well.
“I have a lot of responsibilities at home. I have to clothe, feed and educate my children in this small business of mine where I sell clothes and liquid soap but how can all these be possible if nothing is done at all.
Author: Maria Lopes