BEAKERS IN THE GAMBIA ON STRIKE

By Ousman A. Marong

Bread bakers in the Gambia on yesterday withheld their services over a D1050 increase in the price of flour. The price` of flour now sells at D1050, from its previous price of D900.

Their strike action has led to acute shortage of bread from the streets of the greater Banjul areas.

 The few sells who have bread in stock have suddenly hike the price of their commodities.

 A loaf of bread which until yesterday sells at D7 now sells at D8 while those selling at D6 now selling now attract D7.

 The sudden shortage has started creating panic among bread consumers.

In an interview with the president of the beakers Association in Latrikunda Sabiji, and Tabokoto Muhammed Salieu a Mauritanian national, explained that the increase generally in most brands of flour, from D900 to D1050 on the market render them unable to break even with the current price of bread, he added that the attempt by the government to reduce the price of bread from D7 to D6, attracted condemnation from the public who are in dire need for bread consumption day-in-day out he noted that they are embarking on the one week sit-down strike, to draw the attention of public to these challenges and the need to increase the price of bread and to seek government intervention in order to remedy out the situation.

According to ModouYerrowSalieuJallow another baker in Tabokoto who revealed that they are trying to make consultation with the Trade Minister in order to solve the problem out, adding that efforts were made to reach out to the minister but they were informed that the minister was not in town but her assistance gave them assurance in meeting up with the minister latest on Friday.

 He adduce that they are to meet with the minister on Friday in order to tackle the  menace.

BintaJallow a bread consumer said “her Fula companion in the business industry are always with the believed and habit of putting in D5 on a business and expect to score a profit of D25, which is not normal and it’s forbidden in business sector she concluded.”

MariatouGibba, another bread consumer in Kaw Junction who revealed that she can’t go without bread, adding that this whole mess comes from the Trade minister, saying why a trade minister should interfere with bread prices when she knew she cannot control the price.

 She further added that, it is only in the Gambia where one can become a minister and start to enjoy with his or her family at the expense of the tax payers money, without considering the poor.

However efforts were made to reach to the minister herself she was contacted via a whatsApp chat with newsbite Gambia's Ousman A. Marong but she said she was not in town and that she was in a meeting.

Dr. Isatou Touray (photo credit from her facebook handle)