It is as clear as day that the adverse impact of Covid-19 on the economy and livelihood of people would be catastrophic.
Business, in many countries, have come to a halt. The economies taking a downward spiral. Men and women either out of work or can’t work. There is downsizing or lay offs every where…
If major economies are reeling under the gargantuan weight of Covid-19, what would countries who largely depend on aid, grants, loans, charities and remittances be experiencing? The Gambia is typical case in point. We, to a great extent, feed from others’ hands.
The revenue we collect domestically, we also use to offset domestic borrowing and debt servicing, pay salaries and other overheads of the civil service. May be some go down the “drains”. Metaphorically, we live from hand to mouth, on a shoestring budget.
Come to think of it. Our social protection system isn’t good enough, if existing at all. In trying times as we are experiencing, there is no cushion for those living on the margins, living on $1 a day, experiencing the pangs and throes of poverty, living in vulnerable circumstances, etc. They can only pray to God.
As the Government thinks of emergency measures, I hope it is, to cushion the effects of Covid-19 on our economy, I plea that greater consideration be given to following categories of our society:
The elderly/ aged
The person with disability
The pensioner
The beggar
The homeless
The prisoner
The unemployed parent
The parent with a child with disability
The family living on $1 a day
The street connected child
The labourer
The adult whose monthly income is $50 or less
Covid-19 poses a great challenge to the enjoyment of human rights, to the State’s obligations to respect, protect and fulfil human rights, to human security and dignity. It is the greatest security threat I can imagine.
The State should be the keeper of the weak, the marginalized and the poor.
