Hon. Nyassi was speaking in an interview with Star FM about his take of the final year of Barrow’s first term.
He further said that the coalition government has failed the Gambians for not fulfilling their promises, noting that the current Gambian leader, Adama Barrow, during his campaign, with confidence, would always tell the people that he would reduce the price of a bag of rice to D500 from D900 or D950 during that time.
“We all heard it here during the coalition campaign, with confidence, Adama Barrow would always tell people that he would reduce the price of a bag of rice from D950 at that time to D500. He even went far as making a promise to reduce some basic commodities if they win election,” he recalled.
He further explained that this was the impression President Barrow and the coalition members were giving the Gambians, noting that during that time, Gambians also think that a president who would come and reduce the cost of a bag of rice and other basic commodities, and also improve the economy of the country would be the person that would understand their pains and sufferings but not like what we are now seeing.
He added that the government cannot even control the increment in transports fares which they have control over, adding that during the pandemic transports fares were increased in the country due to the high price of fuel and since then, they never come down even after reducing the price of fuel.
According to him, since President Barrow assumed the Office of the President, the price of bag of rice has increased, adding that one would use words to make promises to people thinking that they are deceiving them, but rather they are deceiving themselves.
“It is very important for people to remember the word of promise they made to people especially during their political campaigns. Because a day will come you will face the same people again and they will remember the words you told them and are not fulfiled.”
The Foni Kansala lawmaker revealed that the high cost of living in the country becomes more difficult now, adding that a bag of rice which was D950 is now pegged at D1,250 or D1,300.
“Not mentioning other basic commodities such as oil, onion and sugar amongst other prices that are all going high. This is why I said that the basic commodities which we use for survival will never come down.”
He urged Gambians to do what former president Yahya Jammeh advised by making best use of their lands to grow what they eat and eat what they grow.
“The former president has always been advising people to make best use of their lands. This he has been saying to Gambians for many years but then people never saw the good he was doing; only the bad. But today, he is not around and people have started seeing what he was avoiding from happening to us.”
He finally blamed the coalition for everything that is happening in the country right now.
