As part of efforts to ease the burden of Gambians and businesses, President Adama Barrow of the Gambia has today amended some of the regulations of the country’s state of emergency regulations governing open markets and shopping areas as well as the transportation of goods and essential commodities.
According to a media statement from State House, the move follows serious consultations and thorough evaluations of the impact of the emergency powers on the life and livelihood of citizens and its overall effects on businesses especially, those deemed nonessential.
It added: “Effective immediately, all persons trading in food products in any market in the Gambia shall open for business between 6.00am and 1.00pm each day. Similarly, persons trading in non-food products in any market shall now open between the hours of 2.00pm and 6pm daily.
“However, a trader or business owner who is convicted for a second time for non compliance with the stipulated market schedules shall have his or her goods forfeited to the State. Goods forfeited to the State shall be surrendered to the Trade Minister and become the property of the Gambia Government and there are no exceptions to this Regulation.”
The statement added that commercial vehicles carrying goods or petroleum products from the Greater Banjul Area destined for other parts of the country will not be allowed to operate after 15:00pm daily.
It further added: “Before departure, drivers or operators of commercial vehicles transporting goods shall obtain a Clearance Certificate from the Police indicating their respective points of departure and destination. The Gambia Government has placed a price ceiling on various essential commodities listed in the accompanying schedule.
“If a vendor or business owner selling essential commodities breaches the price ceiling, the violator may have his or her trade license suspended. Upon arrest and conviction by the courts, the violator’s license shall be revoked. The Inspector General of Police may utilize any premises or warehouses in the Gambia for storing any goods seized pending trial of the owner or carriers of the goods.”
Sir,
So you now say:
1. Move around for a few hours and spread the virus.
2. Pay our police officers bribe to continue spreading the virus.
There is no guidance about.
Testing.
Contact Tracing.
Surveillance and
Mitigation.
We can all agree that this pandemic and the steps taken to reduce spread will have difficult and challenging adverse consequences on the lives of Gambians.
But we are also desirous of our government providing.
Clear
Pragmatic and
Safe directions on way back to a new normal.
Frankly the steps you have taken are.
Likely to turn our country into a Petri dish for COVID 19 disease.
This is what I would have done:
Make sure the crooks in government don’t steal the money you received to combat this virus.
The Gambia with a population of 1.5m – 2m is in a unique position to embark on aggressive testing, contact tracking and disease surveillance.
We should develop a robust phase in process of returning to normal life, guided by data collected from comprehensive testing plan in all regions.
Sir, go back to the drawing board and re think your executive directive. If not the tourism season you are attempting to save will be a disaster as you will have to contend with deaths of tourists and Gambians.