The minister of tourism and culture, Mr. Hamat Bah, asked the entire staff members of Gambia tourism board to stay home with their salary cut down by half. This decision came into effect on Monday 1st June, 2020.

This new regulation will remain this way for the next six months or until circumstances predict otherwise, says, Hamat Bah.

He further said, his decision is precipitated by the fact that there is no single dough going into the GTBoard coffers due to the current pandemic.

“It’s my power to approve the budget and I approved the budget based on no revenue for GTBoard. Tourism is dead. Not one single penny is going to GTBoard, where are they getting it?

“I took certain measures to cut cost. This is taxpayer’s money. I don’t send anybody on redundancy, I don’t send anybody on leave without pay. I said, ‘stay home, you’ll be paid half salary’. You will be paid half salary and park your vehicle. No cost to the board,” Mr Bah emphasised.

He also  added, “I am acting as a responsible minister. I’m making sure that I save them and save the institution.

“That they are not redundant and the law gives me right to redundant them because they are not getting any revenue. Tourism is dead.

“The hotels have sent all their staff on redundancy, all the bars have sent their staff on redundancy. Tourism is at ground zero, and they are part of the tourism fraternity.

By: Fatoumatta Samateh

For Kairaba News Network