By Binta Jaiteh
Chedo Ceesay, a ram vendor around the Turn-table has complained of his rams on sale being stolen by driving thieves in spite of the low turnout of customers facing in the approach of Eid-il-Adah, known as Tobaski across Senegambia, compared to last year.
In an interview with The Voice newspaper, Ceesay said “I can confirm that my rams were stolen while I was sleeping when some men came with a Taxi and took the Rams away. Because of this, I have to sit and watch the rams even in the rain, if not they will finish me by stealing everything”.
‘’That day the military was there and I was angry and I told them awful words because I was angry and each Ram costs D20, 000. They had to trap me all this while and the most annoying part is when police see you with a knife, they ask what you are doing with a knife. How can you be in this type of business and fail to arm yourself?’’ he asked rhetorically. “We do suffer in the raining season and we ask for assistance if that can be available, it will impact on our business,” he stated.
He added that the business is not going on well for now, but the hope that might later take cattle from urban areas and by extension to Senegal, with consideration of the price of cattle and cost of transportation, which he said to be difficult.
He added that if customers are charged about D30, 000 for a Ram, they always complain about the high price which the situation is beyond their control.
He said the reason for the hike of rams, was due to the high exchange rate of CFA which is not in their favor as well as consideration of the far distance to the destination where the rams are being finally sold to customers.
Ebrima Ceesay another vendor said looking at the situation, some rams cost D75, 000, and considering the poor situation of the country, that not everyone can afford that price, so that was the reason they decided to reduce the price to D50, 000.
He said some businessmen had to travel up to the urban areas, such as Farafenni ‘’Lumo’’ to transport them to the kombo.