Vendors
at the Latrikunda Sabiji market have appealed to the government to reduce the
high taxation levied on them.
According
to them, the government has recently increased the monthly taxation system on
the market from three hundred and fifty dalasi to five hundred dalasi.
The
vendors said the monthly taxation is different from the ten-dalasi daily duties
collected from them, which amounts to over 300 dalasi every month.
Spokesperson
of the market committee, Abdoulie Camara said the market committee have been
making efforts to meet the Kanifing Municipal Council officials to discuss the
reduction but the result from the Council were fruitless.
“Our
problem is the tax. We use to pay 350 dalasi but it is now increased to 500 and
we also pay daily duties of ten dalasi with fish sellers paying 20 dalasi pay
day,” he said.
Mr
Camara said they are not refusing to accept the demand of the council but they
cannot afford that high tax. “We want the KMC to understand our problem. We are
not refusing to pay the 500 they are demanding but we cannot afford it.”
Speaking
on behalf of the women vendors in the market, Fatou Njie said their cries are
for the KMC to reduce the price levied on them, adding that they are not trying
to avoid the payment but they cannot afford it.
“All
of us are here to look for fish money and to help our families. We want KMC to
consider our cries and for them to know that we are not saying no, but we do
not have it, so we can’t afford it,” she said, with tears on her eyes.
Kanifing
municipal Council market manager, Modou Njie described the tax increment as a
general council resolution within the 19 markets in the Municipality.
He
said the Council gives the canteens at the rate of 350 dalasis but people will
sublet their canteens from 150 to 2000 dalasi and that was why the council
passed a resolution to increase the rent fee.
“This
is a general council resolution and it is a law and the Latrikunda market is
not an exceptional when it comes to such implementation,” he said.
