Local cement importers are battling it out with The Gambia government in court over the tariff-induced devastations to their livelihoods with the Banjul High Court set for adoption of briefs on May 21st.
The Gambia government sometime last year increased the tariff on a bag of imported cement from D30 to D180, a move sharply criticized in some quarters as it led to job losses, cement price hikes and shortages.
The Gambia government insists its cement tariff policy has been introduced to protect local cement “producers” such as Jah Oil, Salam and Gacem.
This tariff policy has effectively given the three companies the cement market dominance, despite two of them relying on re-bagging of imported pulverized cement.
Local cement importers described the 500% tariff increase as illogical, ill-conceived and illegal.
The local cement importers are now in court with the Barrow administration, seeking from the court a declaration that the new tariff is illegal and therefore, null and void.
The case came up at the Banjul High Court on Thursday but it was adjourned to May 21st for adoption of briefs after the State lawyer A.A Wakawa applied for a short adjournment to put the State’s house in order. He told presiding judge Justice Sonia Akinbiyi that the State was served the written address and affidavit at 10:30 on Wednesday.
His subsequent application for a short adjournment was granted as it was not objected to by the plaintiffs’ lawyer Khaddyjatou Jallow of Dandimaayo Chambers.
