By: Momodou Justice Darboe
The Office of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) has yet to issue a permit to the Cement Importers’ Association a few days to their planned-protest, sources informed this reporter last evening.
CITA requested police permit nearly three weeks ago to protest against the Gambia government’s decision to increase a tariff on a bag of imported cement from D30 to D180.
The association said many of its members have been made redundant by government’s cement policy.
The Gambia government said it imposed the 500% increase on a bag of imported cement to protect local cement manufacturers.
It would be recalled that cement dealers at the other side of the border in Senegal took to the streets sometimes ago to protest the Gambia’s cement levy. Multitudes of cement dealers descended on the border community of KeurAyip to protest the “devastations” caused to their livelihoods by the Gambia’s new cement tariff.
“We used to import cement from Senegal and the levy was CFA 300,000 but they said we should now pay D2M. We went to the customs but we realized that the issue was above them. We are well aware that Macky and Barrow had a cozy relationship. They imposed this levy while our President [Basirou Diomaye Faye] was in The Gambia,” said the Alkalo of Keur AyipMusa Gaye during the Keur Ayip protest. He continued: “The government of Senegal is helping The Gambia because cement is cheaper in The Gambia than in Senegal. I used to buy cement from both countries. In Senegal, I used to buy cement for CFA 76,500 and in Gambia is CFA 47,000. The government [Senegalese government] reduced CFA 19,500 from cement price but many Senegalese nationals are unaware of this. Cement is cheaper in The Gambia. Steel is cheaper in The Gambia. Senegal is assisting The Gambia but Gambians are unaware of this.”
Mr. Gaye told protesters that the Gambianpeople would bear the brunt of their government’s decision to astronomically increase the levy on imported bagged cement because businesses are fine-tuned to make profit.
“The Gambia doesn’t manufacture cement. If you want to manufacture, you must have raw materials and Gambia does not have the raw materials. They would just buy powder cement and baggage it, which even myself can do,” he said to protesters.
The Keur Ayip Alkalo stated that the new cement levy has a potential to cause friction between the two countries.
“This levy was imposed less than a month after Macky’s departure. Any problem between Gambia and Senegal is triggered by Gambians. The Gambia and Senegal are one. Therefore, the Gambian authorities should come back to their senses. Senegal has three cement factories yet they suffer cement shortage let alone Gambia. It is the population that will suffer[from new cement tariff],”Alkalo Gaye pointed out.
“Should the government of the Gambia allow itself to sit by and watch while their people have their businesses destroyed. Senegal government is protecting their businessmen and Gambia, too should,” he emphasized.
CITA is, however, poised to take to the streets on 10 October 2024, to ensure the Gambia government protects its members from bankruptcy.