By Adama Makasuba & Sulayman Waan
Borri Darboe, a commercial director for Banjul Breweries Limited, said: “We don’t know we can shut down this week; we are just waiting for a signal. We are on the verge of shutting down as a result of government policy because they refused to listen to us.”
At least 200 staff of Banjul Breweries Limited are at risk of losing their jobs as the company struggle to operate following the government’s 75% increment on excise tax.
In the wake the government’s new excise tax last December, 18 staff were made redundant leaving 182 others fighting for their jobs as the company struggle to pay them.
Speaking to The Voice Tuesday at the complex of the company, Mr. Darboe slammed Finance Ministry for turning down their request for dialogue on the matter, adding “the survival of the company is threatened on a misguided policy that was introduced by Ministry of Finance and this really affecting our operation.”
“We have made effort to engage as a cooperate partner with the government of the country through finance but we are not being listened to,” he said.
Meanwhile, he said the company has started scaling down the numbers of staff in which 18 staff have been sent home for lack of resources for payment
According to him, the company contributed 127 million in 2017 and other 132 million dalasi as tax to the coffers of the State, adding “from December to March the government collected 97 million dalasi from us.”
He rejected the reports done by government researchers which he said reported that the company produces 300,000 hector liters a month, adding “what we can do ranges between 6000 to 9000 hector liters.
He said: “we started to scale down the number of staff because at the operational cost of the company is very high that the amount government is taking from us now is huge and we wouldn’t be able to meet our over head much more to pay staff.”
Kebba Sidy Bojang, senior operator, said: “right now we are facing challenges because we should be four in number working here but the other two have been sent home.”
He appealed to the government to reconsider the tax policy and reduce the high cost of tax of the companies and businesses in the country for development to take its right course.
Samuel Konteh, tour assistant, said: “we are in a serious dilemma and confusion because right now our work force has reduced due to this new policy of the government. We are family men whom only live on this work for survival.”
He said the company does give the personnel of the regional force, ECOMOG; soft for free of charges, adding the staff could be flushed out by the company at any given moment.
Lamin Conteh, father of nine, said: “more than 20 people depend on me so if the company is shutdown will be a tragedy for me and my family.”
Mr. Conteh, who doubles as the senior supervisor for brewing, urged government to revisit their policy and come to term with them so that the company doesn’t close down.
A survey issued by Gambia Bureau of statistic, GBos, this yaer, the unemployment rate in the Gambia is at a staggering percent of 41.5% from 38%.