By Yunus S Saliu
The staffs of the Banjul Breweries Limited yesterday embarked in a peaceful demonstration at the gate of their breweries to appeal to the government of The Gambia to have a second thought over the new government excise tax policy introduced in December 2018 from 10% to75%, which already forced the company to lay off some number of staffs.
Amidst of some reactions from the public and staff the management of the company and concerned authorities engaged in different meeting for negotiation whereby the management and staff of the Julbrew producer are still expecting a better and favorable reply.
Osei Adumagedu, Secretary General of Wholesalers Association of Banjul Breweries said the increment of the tax from 10-70% has really affected their business. As distributors, he said their daily sales has dropped down drastically to an extent of not knowing what next to do taking into consideration their staffs, rents, and other expenses.
He said the direct workers of Banjul Breweries which among were laid off already doesn’t know their fate yet because the company is threatening to wind-up in due time since they cannot continue to bear the situation from the tax increment.
Osei appealed to the government of The Gambia to revisit the tax “to at least bring it down so that the company can keep on working and direct workers of Banjul Breweries can maintain their job as well as the indirect workers like wholesalers, retailers and even the consumers, too.”
He added that hotel industry is another main consumer that depends on the company products “for the fact that without tourists in the country everything goes down and if tax hike made drink very expensive then it will affect the tourism industry and this will be a disaster for the country’s economy,” he lament.
Musa Kebbeh, Public Relation Officer Wholesaler Association among others also appealed to the government to reduce the tax to avoid the company carrying out its decision of widening up the company.
Omar Drammeh and Awa Gaye, staffs of Banjul Breweries said presently it is only Banjul Breweries that is brewing in the country and if it fold-up it will not just affect only workers but it will be a big blow on the whole country. They added that Banjul Breweries is one of the companies that the youths look up to in term of employment.
Alagie Ceesay, member of Banjul Breweries union said the situation is getting tense especially now that a sister company in Niger owned by the same group that owns Banjul Breweries closed it down on Friday, 17 May.
Since the tax hike is a threat to not only the company but also the staff hence the management complaints of not making profit and wants to close it, he said the union wrote letter to the National Assembly and as well to the President office to seek for audience but they are still waiting for positive replies.
However, in a press briefing organized by the Gambia Tourism and Culture attended by Ebrima Sankareh, Spoke Person for the government and Ebrima Sillah, Minister of Information and Communication assured member of press of positive result within a short time, but no reply yet as confirmed by Bori Darboe, Sales and Marketing Manager of Banjul Breweries Limited