The
business community has reacted following the declaration of State of Public
Emergency.
The
Gambian leader President Adama Barrow made the declaration in a televised
statement on Friday evening amid intensified control measures against the
deadly covid-19.
The
proclamation orders closure of non-essential commodity shops, bars, cafés,
casinos, sporting venues and all forms of public gatherings in bid to stop the
spread of the novel coronavirus.
The
move comes days after the suspension of all public gatherings including
religious convergence.
Muslims
in the country have for the first time been disallowed from attending the
weekly Friday prayers in observance of the ban on public gatherings.
Streets
within Greater Banjul Area, especially Serekunda, the place that plays host to
country’s biggest market had few motorists plying the roads. Beaches and
restaurants in the Tourism Development Area are literally empty as most
tourists cut their holidays short to return home prior to the closure of land
borders and airspace in wake of the pandemic.
Meanwhile,
the president’s declaration on Friday has made some business owners and
controllers as well as commercial drivers complain on the impact of the State
of Emergency as their business and services are ordered closed.
“It is a welcoming idea from government,
because we all don’t want the coronavirus disease to spread in the country but
the government should also come up with mechanism before making such
proclamation,” said Ousman Sillah.
He
added that the declaration of the State of Emergency is too early in the
country, arguing that the Gambia hasn’t reached a stage where it should
pronounce State of Emergency.
Ablie
Ceesay, a van driver, said that this proclamation has made all businesses slow,
noting that the pronouncement has affected them as commercial drivers and
businesses as well.
“Government
should have waited a little longer for this pronouncement and try so hard to
strategise on it surveillance measures against coronavirus. We are all praying
not to get many virus cases in the country,” he said.
Alagie
Said, a mobile shop owner, said that this pronouncement will make them go
through tough times as it affects their businesses.
“Though
it is good for the government to protect the country from the virus but it
should not be by making such pronouncement. Here is where we get our earnings
to feed our families,” he said.
Nyima
Colley, a food vendor, said they are affected by the declaration but commended
government for coming with such initiative.
“It
is good that the government make the declaration now than later, because it is
a known secret that government does not have enough materials to tackle the
virus from spreading and as such this is one of the ways it could do to fight
against the deadly virus,” she said.
Amat
Sabally, a mobile repairer, noted that; “honestly things will be very difficult
for us should it continue for a longer period. We have all our hopes in this
business and if we are ordered to close for some time, it would really disturb
us a lot.”
One
Ousman Camara, welcomed the idea from government, but said he only blamed
government for ordering the suspension of religious convergence.
“Adama
Barrow should not have ordered the suspension of mosques and churches from making
religious convergence. This is one of the times when the mosques and churches
should be making prayers for the covid-19,” he said.
Yankuba
Marong, said that the declaration of State of Emergency came rather too early
for The Gambia, adding that The Gambia has not reached that stage.
“This
is not the right time when the government should declare a state of emergency
in the country. The government should have done anything like spreading its
mechanism to prevent the disease from spreading,” he said.
Meanwhile,
both Mai Ahmed Fatty, GDC Party leader and Bakary Bunja Daboe, leader for GFA
party, welcomed the government’s declaration of a state of emergency, calling
all citizens and residents of The Gambia to join the fight against a global
viral pandemic that is threatening the survival of the nation.
