By Mama A. Touray
The National Assembly member for Foni Bintang Karanai, Hon Bakary K. Badjie, through the Wahjef platform, has expressed concern over the escalating cost of rent and basic commodities.
The escalating price of house rent in the Gambia is a concern for many, especially those living within the Greater Banjul Area.
Hon Badjie said ‘’The house rent issues are affecting citizens seriously as most of the landlords now asking for six-month advance payment. How much are we paying our civil servants? The majority of them are paid less, the Minister responsible for issues of rentals should look into this”.
Hon Badjie added that the majority of Gambians are paid low wages, thus increase in rentals seriously affects them.
Hon Badjie however expressed dissatisfaction over the price of food commodities in The Gambia stating that the hike in price of the food commodities has a significant impact on citizens.
‘’Look at the price of food commodities day in, day out, today if you go and ask, a bag of rice is D1,800, and looking at the amount of the salary civil servants are paid cannot match with prices of basic food commodities’’. He lamented.
Hon Bakary Badjie, therefore, called on the Minister of Trade to take stringent measures to address this menace, citing that, ‘’this is one of the most important things your Ministry should work on”.
He also called on his fellow National Assembly Members to take up their responsibilities with due diligence as the nation is hoping on them.
The Gambia is with a population of over 2.9 million people, yet citizens continue to struggle with basic needs, especially rents and the prices of basic food commodities which has a long-term impact on the less privileged, he added.
