Residents of Farafenni and surrounding areas have started to feel the effects of the recent imposition of duties on cement and not until last week, when the price of a 50kg cement bag was sold at D215 in town but has gone up to D280.
Since, 1st January, 2019; the government imposed an import duty of D1 per kilo on bagged imported cement, in addition to 5% tax on value.
Meanwhile, in front of a large cement store in Farafenni, a distraught customer lamented said on yesterday that: “When I started constructing my house, I bought 40 bags of cement at a price of D215 and when I returned today to buy another 40 bags, I found that the price has increased to D280. There is no way I can finish my house now.”
The cement retailers are already seeing the effects of the higher price. Alagie M. Touray, a cement retailer in Farafenni expressed his surprise and disappointment at this import duty.
“We do not understand why the government decided to increase the tax on cement. This was what Jammeh did. We expected this new government to behave differently”, Mr. Touray said miserably.
Mr. Touray was referring to the Barrow’s government decision to rescind the import duties in 2017 that had been imposed by ex-president Yahya Jammeh’s regime. It appears that the government has decided to impose the duties that President Jammeh initially introduced.
“We expect the government to help the small businessmen rather than hurting us for the benefit of the big importers. All our customers are from poor villages where there is no money. How will they finish their building projects?” Touray pointed out.