By Kebba Ansu Manneh & Yunus S Saliu
Comium GSM Company has extended appeals to the government of The Gambia to lift suspension placed on its operational license while adduced that the company has reached an agreement with Monty Mobile Company to bail out Comium of its current predicament.
These appeals were made by the senior management team of the company at a press conference held at the Company’s Headquarters along Kairaba Avenue Wednesday where they revealed the willingness of the Company to pay tax arrears owing the state with immediate effect once the suspension is lifted.
Speaking at the presser held in the Comium Building, Haddy Dandi Jabbie, Legal Adviser and Human Resources Manager of Comium GSM Company said the suspension of the company’s operational license has been a great shock to not only management but equally to staff, clients and partners, noting that more than one hundred and twenty (120) Gambians are currently working with the company whose jobs are all at risk at the moment.
Counsel Jabbie disclosed that the company has been operating in the country since 2006 with more than one hundred and fifty thousand (150, 000) subscribers, noting that it has always been complying with the authorities in fulfilling its tax obligations without default. “Throughout these years, we have never failed in paying staff salaries or their benefits which could be attested by the staff.
“Comium has also taken its social corporate responsibility to communities and the Gambia in General,” said Comium Legal Adviser.
She added: “We seat here sad today because of this suspension, it has actually stopped most of our customers to enjoy the services we gave them. Comium has always been compliant, as we speak to you (press) apart from licenses which is the main asset contested by PURA, we did not owe any liability when it comes to corporate tax, when it comes to PAYE, social security and so on.”
Counsel Dandi Jabbie further disclosed that Comium is also working with landlords across the country and has never defaulted on their annual payments, adding that Comium has never defaulted in making payments to security companies guarding their facilities across the country.
“As a GSM operator it is difficult to shutdown the network for even an hour, it will put Comium in dire situation, it will kill the company. It will be important for PURA to listen to us and they negotiate with us and fine a way out so that we can continue with our staff, continue having the contracts and continue to work with government as partners,” Comium Legal Adviser appealed.
For his part, Lamin Drammeh, Technical Director of Comium dismissed claims that the company is owing more than D65million saying as at today the Comium is owing Gambia government little over D12million that it is willing to pay when given the space to operate.
According to him, out of the D65million, Tax Liability owe to The Gambia government –D41million is 2021, tax obligation due to be paid in December, and that the company has recently made D10million payment to the Gambia Revenue Authority and now left with twelve D12million as outstanding balance of 2020, tax obligation.
“As we speak now, the investor (Monty Mobile) in the midst of us said if PURA lift the suspension placing on Comium GSM Company they are ready and going to pay everything the Comium is owing, now,” Comium Technical Director revealed to listening press men and women and staff present at the presser.
Joe King Mendy, Assistant Manager, Sales and Marketing, said the ceasing of operations at the company is causing great harms to the staff of the company whose livelihoods depends on the operation of the company, adding that the suspension notice delivered to the company has been received with great shock among by staff.
He as well appealed to PURA, Ministry of Information and Communications, President of the Republic of The Gambia His Excellency Adama Barrow to allow Comium to start operations, arguing that hence Monty Mobile is ready to clear all the debts Comium owing and take the company to another level it will be sound to lift the suspension imposed.