Price of Laundry Soap scares Gambians

By Balla Musa Jagana, Serre-Kunda

Prices of commodities are shooting quite high each day including Laundry Soap recently that has scared Gambians and are asking why the price rise in basic commodities especially soap.

The laundry soap that was sold for 3 Dalasis and later for four Dalasis over the week rose to 8 Dalasis per bar. The soap that was produced by the Late Sangkung Sillah had never risen as high as it is now. Many women around Bundung were in tears as the price hike hit them. Before reaching D8, it was at D4 zooming to D8 at once.

Fatou Sonko, living at Jola Kunda said it was a big problem that even soap would go that high. She said as a maid when the soap was cheaper she would get some from her boss to wash their clothes clothes at home and her boss own spick and span without blemish.

Many shop keepers around the Serekunda Market said it is not their fault but the price of the whole sale has risen forcing them to adjust their prices to the detriment of the masses. The most hard hit according to one of the soap distributors working for Sangkung Sillah and prefers anonymity said the problem is to be blamed on the government for raising lots of taxes against them. He said materials are now expensive and are finding it difficult to meet some costs. He also blamed Mohamed Sillah the son of the Late Sankung Sillah for not negating hard enough with the government to help see the need to reduce the price by reducing tariff and some charges.

Speaking to retired Sgt Bamba at Tabokoto, who is now an old man, said the price of commodities are rising steadily without knowing it. God knows how much we bought such a soap in days before July 22, 1994 and today it is tripling that price.

Women in Talinding market believe that it is not only laundry soap that is causing such problem but other commodities too. Gambians are not used to such high prices, many women would be in tears when even salt price would go higher than expected. They said the price rise is a chain work and the country should be careful with such or else no one would buy except the rich, then where and when shall the Gambia attain the Vision 2020 promised? The Silicon Valley may not be achieved if such a trend continues, it is only in line with poverty and not its reduction.