Amid Economic Uncertainties- Prices For Basic Commodities Jumping The Roof

With price of sugar skyrocketing, Gambia Government Under Fire Again

 As businessmen urge cut on custom tariffs   

By Staff Reporter James Jammeh, Banjul                           

In the face of heightened consumer outcry over soaring costs of basic and essential commodities, with prices of commodities like sugar sky-rocketing by the day, Freedom has conducted a series of interviews in an effort to verify information we have, in our bid to establish what is responsible for the worrying trend.

Discussing with key business people on the ground in Gambia, this paper was able to establish a shocking unanimity in their views and call for the Gambia government to cut down Custom and Import charges on such basic commodities. Although businesses aren't blaming government entirely for the situation, they think the latter can do something to ameliorate the ensuing domestic burden on Gambians.

A  Mauritanian Businessman who presently sells a bag of sugar at D950 dalasis wholesale, pointed out that a rise in price of the commodity at the world market level means that by next January a bag  will sell at D1100.

“I am telling you that the price today at international market, wholesale per bag, is D1, 000. It could be reduced before January 2010, but what I can say clearly now is that the high price is due to the world market, not us,” he said. But, according to him, with a payment of D60 for both Custom and Import charges, they are forced to increase the price per bag of sugar to D1100.

Citing India, a traditional exporter of sugar, as having become an importer of the commodity this year, a Guinean businessman also laid the blame of sky rocking prices on some ''market forces.'' He said that with one billion people needing to buy sugar, the pressure on supply naturally increases, and that ''obviously the price must go up.” He said that the Gambian Trade Ministry was indeed aware of the problem as a worldwide phenomenon, but that the least they can do is to cut down on custom and import charges.

Meanwhile, another section of the business community, comprising Gambians, Senegalese and others, argue that the Government can do far more than just having to cut down on charges businessmen face on importing much needed goods. They challenge the Gambia government to revisit her recent budget with regards to all other charges on the business community if it really have concern for the people, more especially the poor and the needy.

The Government says come the New Year prices for basic commodities would go up. Rice, which is the nation's main staple food is expected to witness a steady increase. It says it wants  to encourage Gambians to consume their own local food. Vehicle and shipment taxes have also gone up. Many here are worried about the Government's recent move to increase taxes when salaries are stagnant.