By: Dawda M. Jallow
Tailors at Brikama Market have expressed frustration over persistent electricity outages, saying the worsening power crisis is crippling their businesses.
They say the frequent power outage is damaging their equipment and making it increasingly difficult for them to earn a living.
In separate interviews with The Voice, several tailors say they are now able to work for only a few hours or sometimes not at all due to the erratic electricity supply.
Dawda Mballow, a tailor at the market, says the lack of stable electricity has severely affected his work and his ability to meet customers’ demands.
“We only work for less than an hour on some days because the electricity is not stable,” Mballow said. “Customers often come for their clothes, but we are unable to complete them on time. This is how we earn our living and feed our families, but since the electricity shortage started, survival has become very difficult.”
Another tailor, Rabiatou Jallow, echoed similar concerns, saying the situation has worsened since before Tobaski (Eid Feast).
“Things have been very hard for us. Sometimes we sit for almost the entire day without electricity,” she remarked. “One of my sewing machines was damaged because of the constant power fluctuations and outages.”
According to her, tailors are among the many small business owners whose livelihoods depend entirely on a reliable electricity supply.
“We cannot work without electricity. The authorities need to understand that many Gambians depend on electricity to earn a living. We have experienced shortages before, but this year’s situation is the worst I have seen,” she added.
Jallow further expressed concern about the broader impact of the power crisis, noting that households and public institutions such as hospitals are also feeling the effects.
Customers are also feeling the consequences of the outages.
Zainab Faal, who is waiting for clothes to be sewn ahead of a family naming ceremony, said delays caused by the electricity shortage have disrupted her plans.
“My naming ceremony is approaching, but my clothes are still not ready because the tailors cannot work without electricity,” she noted.
Faal criticised the country’s recurring power challenges and urged authorities to find lasting solutions to the problem.
Meanwhile, 56-year-old tailor Ba Ousman Jabbie says he has been unable to work for nearly two weeks because his sewing machine depends entirely on electricity.
“It has been almost two weeks since I last worked,” Jabbie said. “We spend more time in darkness than with electricity. This has affected our livelihoods because many families depend on businesses like tailoring for their survival.”
He called on the government and the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) to address the situation urgently, arguing that access to reliable electricity has become essential for both businesses and households.
The complaints from Brikama Market come amid growing public concern over electricity supply across parts of the country, with traders and residents warning that prolonged outages are disrupting economic activity and placing additional pressure on already struggling households.