Butchers, cattle dealers trade accusations

As part of the Kanifing Municipal Council’s efforts to get to the bottom of the purported sit-down strike said to have been organised by some butchers within the Kanifing Municipality, which followed the ultimatum issued by The Gambian leader, President Yahya Jammeh, for those who deal in meat to reduce the price latest today, the Mayor of KMC, Yankuba Colley, recently held a meeting with cattle dealers.
 
The meeting was held at the Council’s chambers, in Kanifing. The meeting which was aimed at fostering understanding among the cattle dealers and the meat sellers, turned out to be a forum for the trading of accusations by the two parties, each refusing to shoulder the blame for the rumoured sit-down strike.

Mayor Colley stressed that the ultimate of the president was supposed to bring together the stakeholders involved, as every party had an important role to play.  He highlighted the fact that KMC has the biggest consumer of meat in the country, and that they also have the highest occupancy of foreign nationals.

According to him, the butchers blame the cattle dealers for withdrawing their cattle after having already earmarked them for slaughter. He however said that he could not confirm the truth of the story.

He said that cattle dealers were also blaming the butchers for returning their heads of cattle following the announcement of the proposed drop in the price of meat.  The mayor further stated "bringing you together to discuss the matter is the only way that we can overcome the problem”. He said that the involvement of middlemen (locally called Coksorr) in cattle dealing, contributes to the hike in the price of cattle. He said that these were people who were only at the Abuko Daral to hamper the business. He suggested that their activities be well looked into.

He finally urged cattle dealers to work hard for the welfare of the nation, as they are partners in development.  He also used the opportunity to announce his intention to organise another meeting with truck drivers who also share a portion of the blame for allegedly levying high prices for transporting the cattle.

Commissioner Kebbeh of the Gambia Police Force and Alhagie Ousman Tamba, of the NIA, both of whom are attached to the KMC, expressed similar sentiments, emphasising the need for the enforcement of the law upon anybody found breaching the ultimatum. They noted the Gambian leader had in mind the interests of the citizenry, and that his ultimatum was a manifestation of how he feels for them. They called for cooperation among the cattle dealers.

Alhajie Kebba Jobe, a cattle dealer at the Abuko Daral, said they were touched by the outcome of the meeting, stating that it is important to organise such meetings.  
Mr Jobe promised that despite all the challenges, they will continue with their businesses, as the country belongs to "us all, we will support the initiative".  He further pointed out that it was the butchers who were not prepared to comply, which was why, he said, they organised the sit-down strike. He listed down a list of difficulties they are faced with when it comes to transporting their cattle, blaming truck drivers for putting high prices on their cattle.

Other speakers from among the cattle dealers included Modikeh Jallow, Ensa Ndow, Basiru Sowe and Musa Njie who all expressed delight with the meeting, promising to comply with and support The Gambian leader’s brilliant initiative. Alhagie Mustapha Saine, administrative officer at the KMC, chaired the ceremony which was witnessed by a cross section of the market vendors and staff of the management.