By: Landing Colley & Nyima Sillah
Businesspersons are in fear of any possible extension of the countrywide lockdown aimed at curbing spread of the coronavirus as the country’s 45 days of State of Public Emergency is due to expire on May 17, 2020.
Speculations have been making round that the lockdown days could be extended as the country’s virus cases has surged for the past weeks.
Shena Tarawally, a businessman said: “if government happens to extend the State of Emergency it will be like killing and bury us, even this stay at home that was implemented has damage all of our business.”
According to him, since the start of the State of Public Emergency “we have never received any support from the government.”
“The government should have help us and allow us to open our shops early in the morning up to 4:00pm, which will be better. Government decision on opening and closing of shop does not favor us the businessmen,” he added.
Nderri Jallow also a businessman, said: “our business is deeply affected if the government should extend the State of Public Emergency that will damage us totally; currently I get huge debts to pay which include shop rent payment of my staff and others.”
Mr Jallow also lamented about the stipulated time for operation of their businesses amid the coronavirus, times which stands from 2pm to 6pm “because many of the customers do shopping in the morning because is more favorable especially in Ramadan.”
“We the fabric traders have only two months in the whole year which is the month of Koriteh and Tobaski and this year’s Koriteh is already lost due to this pandemic,” he said.
He however urged the government “not to extend the State of Public Emergency but rather give them a specific number of buyers in a shop and allow the shop to open 24hrs.”
Malick Cham and Isatou Faal among dozens of other businesspersons echoed similar views as they pleaded to the government to look into their plights.
