“I urge all vendors in and out of the Market to cease any act of Violence or willful damage to property. I thank the Municipal Police and Gambia Police force for calming the situation,” he stated in a statement.
Secondly the streets around the market serve as a lifeline for the market; both for security access and customer access, if those are clogged by 'Wanterr vendors' it suffocates the market and poses a security risk.”
The Mayor's office has emphasised that violence and property damage are unacceptable, highlighting the availability of dispute resolution channels through the Market Managers office, the market committee, and the Mayor's office. “Law enforcement agencies, including the Municipal Police and the Gambia Police Force, have been thanked for their efforts in calming the situation.”
To address the immediate concerns, the Market Management has allocated "Mbari Pa Dembo," an empty space within the market, to accommodate up to 200 temporary "wanterr" vendors. Additionally, the KMC has identified 16 other markets outside the Serekunda vicinity with available spaces for vendors. The Mayor urges all parties to cooperate with council authorities to promote peace.
The issue caused escalating violence between shop owners and “wanterr” vendors in the early hours of Monday. With both parties expressing frustration and disappointment between themselves.
