President sets meat prices - Gives out over 17,000 bags of sugar

In what could be described as another swing of ‘Operation No Compromise’, President Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh has ordered butchers across the country to bring down the prices of meat per kilo from D80 for steak and D60 for meat and bones by next week Thursday, in an attempt to end what he saw as “exploitation” of local consumers.

In addition, the president publicly empowered regional governors, mayors and district chiefs to ensure no one within their jurisdictions flouts the new prices, by resorting to police action against such individuals.

The Gambian leader who received wide applause from the assembled crowd, gave this ultimatum at the State House grounds in Banjul while presiding over the distribution of over 17,000 bags of sugar to various regions and security units in the country, in observance of the Muslim Holy Month of Ramadan.

He described the attitude of businessmen who over-price their commodities, especially during Ramadan, as unacceptable, warning of drastic action against those caught in the act.  

He vowed that the era of ‘Maslaha’  was history, warning that anyone whoever defies his order will suffer the consequences.

To him, any butcher who does not want to comply with the new order is free to leave or else the police will deal with them, as the farm-gate price of livestock, especially cattle, is quite reasonable, as is known to all.  
“My democracy is, if you do good you will have peace and if you do bad you go to prison,” the president explained.

 Allaying fears
At the ceremony, President Jammeh allayed possible fears of some consumers that if the butchers - most of whom are non-Gambians - leave, there might be a shortage in the local meat markets.

Known for his resolve for Gambians to have food at reasonable cost, Dr Jammeh announced that plans have already been put in place to ensure the availability of abundant meat in the local markets.

Lackadaisical attitude
Dr Jammeh once again expressed dismay over the attitude of some Gambians who refused to take up jobs in the informal sectors of the country, thus leading to foreign domination of local markets.

According to him, if non-Gambians can make wealth in the country within a short period of time, why not Gambians. He cited the multi-million dollar fisheries projects in Gunjur and Tanji as crystal clear examples, as they are dominated by foreigners because Gambians refused to take up jobs there, despite the huge investments by the government.

He again cited the Albert Market in Banjul as another area dominated by foreigners, simply because Gambians do not want to participate in trade.
He also vowed to sack public servants who are not serious with their duties and urged secretaries of state to transmit his message to their various departments as a warning to them.

 ‘Gambia is best’
President Jammeh described The Gambia as the best place to live in the region, adding “if you are in doubt, ask those travelling. Except Cuba, there is no country where you will pay D5 and you get treatment; except in The Gambia”.

He dismissed the propaganda, by detractors and saboteurs, that The Gambia is hard to live in, thus spurring youths to embark on illegal migration to Europe.
To him, if the country is as hard as they claim, there would not have been Europeans coming to the country in search of jobs.  “If you disagree with my government, that’s fine but don’t encourage illegal migration to Europe,” said the president, citing the recent incident off the coast of Yemen, which resulted in the deaths of many young African migrants trying to enter  Europe.

Speaking earlier, the secretary of state for Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters, Yankuba Touray, said the president’s donation during the month of Ramadan is an annual event, which goes to show his magnanimity to Gambians.
He advised beneficiaries to ensure that the sugar is distributed in a transparent manner in line with the wishes of the president.

Fatou Lamin Faye, the secretary of state for Basic and Secondary Education, who also spoke at the gathering, urged Gambian women to remain steadfast in their support to the president, as he is doing all he can to further raise the status of Gambian people.