By: Mariama Njie
Since The Gambia registered its first case of the deadly coronavirus pandemic last Sunday, government has issued a ban on public gatherings and closed schools and Universities for 21 days, which also affects local weekly markets.
But markets within the Greater Banjul Area have expressed emotional concerns over the situation as they complaint of poor sales since the ban got into effect.
The Voice was on Tuesday spoke to some of the vendors in Serrekunda market over the closure and the implications of the pandemic. Among the vendors is Sohna Ceesay, who said: “Since the outbreak of the virus in the country business has not been going well as usual because customers are not coming to the market as before, only few people are coming to buy goods.”
She lamented that it is from the business they are hoping and living on with the family to survive.
Fatou Jobe, also a market vendor, lamented of price increment on food commodities like rice and other food stuff.
She refuted increasing price of items she is selling saying “but as for me, I haven’t increase price of my commodities, despite customers are not coming like before but we have to bear and hope for the best.”
Cherno Camara said: “COVID 19 is really affecting businesses and market is less occupied we are receiving lesser customers. Since then business has been dull, many are no more coming for shopping like before only few people coming.”
To Sherifo Sano, a fish seller said: “honestly speaking business is very dull these days compared to before when you can sell a basket of fish for two days, but now a basket took us four days.”