By Binta Jaiteh
Traders within the greater Banjul Area are complaining of high prices imposed on food items causing great concern amid the coronavirus pandemic which has crippled businesses and force hundreds of people out of job.
Jay Gaye, a trader at the Tipper garage, said life has been harder for him and his family since pandemic broke out in the country, which she said has cause price hike on food and slow businesses.
“Life has become unbearable for me and feeding is sometimes a problem, because the price on food like fish, onions, and rice,” he said.
“Price of goods should be controlled so that business will be easy, selling without any profit is difficult. Some customers keep on complaining but the problem is beyond our control and not all fingers are equal,” he added.
However not all people can buy “Sam” of a fish at (300) dalasis, you have to reduce the price at a reasonable price and that will not help us.
If business collapse then the country is at risk since some of us depend on this business for end meet.
Mama Jarra Saidy, an entrepreneur, raised concern on fish price saying “ fish is the main obstacle on our way, we cannot buy fish in expensive price and sell it at a lower price.”
He said: “some fish are costing 500 to 1000 dalasis you don’t expect to sell that for 300. Following the interest of customers will not help, people should understand that is not our fault. There is no profit in business nowadays, the Chinese scale the price of their fish and sell it in kilos.”
“Per kilo is 125 , you have to negotiate with them to a better price but some insist on the fixed price”
So I therefore urge the Government to help us in this matter , they are enjoying while the citizens are suffering, he said.
“American rice is 1,450 dalasis and “Sadam” is close to 1,900, where ere are we heading to Gambia, all the sectors are getting difficult every day,” Fatou saidy said.