By Binta Jaiteh
Fish vendors selling in and outside the markets have bemoaned of price hikes while calling on government to address the situation with utmost urgency.
Jankey Jatta, a vendor at Tipper Garage said the price of fish is still high, they are much used to the business, a reason they are managing with it just to survive.
‘’If you buy a bucket of fish for D6 000 you have to pay the seller before moving an inch and transport fee too before you know it , you will realize that you have no profit at the end of the day plus other daily duty payment and other expenses,” she lamented.
“The way price is increasing I fear that poor people like me and others will not buy red snapper because it is very costly. Selling without earning profit is meaningless but notwithstanding we will continue to satisfy our customers and hope that this will end in shortest time soon,” she prayed.
She added further that even at the sea fish is scarce and some fishes are so tiny that no one will buy it at a market price place on them; a kilo of fish is D130. Noting that government has a great responsibility in empowering people because people’s votes matter as they carried majority, she stated.
HorojaCeesay, also a vendor, said poverty is conquering the country because the rich are not ready to assist the poor and “Majority of Gambian people try to afford buying fish instead of meat. I think fish should be cheaper but these two basic commodities are expensive and the question still remains why and what is the solution.”
Moreover, she went on “as we all know we are in democracy era so freedom of expression gives us the rights to talk till changes are made for good. Even those sitting at home know about the difficulties women are facing in the market.”
