By: Mustapha Jarju
Vendors at Brikama market say the high cost of commodities affects daily sales to their customers, who come from Brikama and the surrounding villages in the West Coast Region.
Fatou Saidy who has a canteen at the market, said the daily increase in the price of goods is frustrating, and called for the government to intervene and control prices, as customers are always complaining.
“We use to explain to our customers that this is not our fault, and that the increase came from the wholesalers. We also told them that reducing taxes on commodities is the responsibility of the government.”
She said the government needs to have a dialogue with the business investors on managing commodity prices.
Currently, a bag of sugar is costing D1,850 and a 20-litre drum of cooking oil is costing D1,700; this is too much on us”, she lamented.
Omar Darboe, a vendor near the Brikama Fish Market, said there is no price control in the markets, and people sell anyhow they feel.
Thus they do not make much sales and, as heads of families, the little profit poses a problem since at times they go home with less income and cannot satisfy the family needs, because of the price hikes.
Speaking on the ongoing rehabilitation of roads in the market area, he said the drainage should be fixed. He said presently waste water from the Fish Market is stagnant at the Bus Stop area.
He said the market vendors are tired of the situation, with some forced to leave their selling points, which is a problem they are currently facing.
