By: Nyima Sillah
The General Manager of Association of Small Scale Enterprise in Responsible Tourism (ASSERT) has outlined the impact of coronavirus over the association.
In an interview with Ebrima Ceesay via a telephone call on Monday he noted that ASSERT is seriously impacted by covid-19.
According to him, it has been a real devastating for the association because it has stopped all their activities apart from the ones they are doing online.
He disclosed that the association activities include organizing platforms for members, which include those that are based on the agricultural and tourism sectors and among others “but that entire have to stop in line with the government guidelines.
Now, he said everything is on standstill and the sectors are a whole is not functioning.
However, he said some of their major challenges are the participation of the members and the expenditure. This he said is hindering most of their members from participating in activities considering the fact that there are no incomes coming which really makes it difficult for them.
Meanwhile, he confirmed that ASSERT has not get any support from the government amid the coronavirus so far. “There is a talk of a hundred million dalasi by the Tourism and Culture Ministry but that’s nowhere to be found and it is not accountable” yet, he said.
“The support we need from the government is for government to provide subsidies, grants and funds that will help to stimulate the businesses of individuals,” he explained
All they are doing now, he said, it to make sure that their businesses don’t collapse during this trying time because it is very hard for all the members as sales are not progressing.
Furthermore, he said, “there are plans to help the members to stand back on their feet after the covid-19. In fact the government has set up a task force that is looking into different sectors. Part of the task force is tourism and agriculture and other sectors”, he disclose.
ASSERT, is an association that helps to bring together micro small and middle side enterprises in tourism and related activities to help them trade fairly and pursue responsible and sustainable business practices.
