By: Nyima Sillah
Vendors at Serrekunda market have reacted to the decision of the Municipality daily shut down of shops at 6pm as part of efforts to reduce and curb further spread of the coronavirus pandemic in The Gambia.
Kanifing Municipal Council Wednesday announced that all shops in the market should close businesses at 6pm daily for a period of 21 days in accordance to the government ban on public gathering.
So far, the decision has caused mixed reactions among vendors in Serrekunda market. EbrimaKora, a vendor, attested that “the evening closure of the market is for the safety of the public, but at some point, it affects our businesses because some customers do come for shopping in the evening.”
According to him, he has never experienced such law imposed on the market since he started doing business “this really put me like other vendors in dilemma because if businesses are affected, the economic will also be affected which is not good for the country.”
Ebou Njie , a second hand clothes dealer in other hand said it is in the evening around 5pm that he has stall or place to display and sell his goods. “It is around 5pm I do have a space to spread (display) my clothes for sale and that’s the perfect time to attract more female customers because most of them buy their second hand clothes known as ‘fukanjai’ in the evening.”
Amie Njie, a fish monger, said she got shocked when she heard the information because she too always startsher business in the evening.