The member of the National assembly for Sandu constituency Honourable Muhammed Munara who doubles as the Chairperson for the National assembly standing committee on trade, shared his committee’s stance on the most talked about issue of price hike which rocked various markets in the Gambia. Some Economic analysis argued that price hike could be influenced by high demand as well as huge levies that are placed on businesses by authorities.  

According to Honourable Munara, they as concerned citizens and the people’s representative are equally worried about the issue of the price surge affecting the markets and has impact on livelihood; he added that  due to the public outrage on this matter prompted them as members of the parliament to hold a session in the assembly chambers today but unfortunately the Minister of trade and his Permanent secretary are  both  out of the country  but he insisted that the  session will proceed with  the presence of other relevant stakeholders. He said this is treated as top priority by his committee which attracts their presence today to find a solution to this matter despite their leave.

When asked about the rumor on the trade Ministry and his committee’s inaction about remedying the price hike, he refuted this, by stating that, his team had toured the country up to the border villages to assess the impact of the price hike in various markets in the country, the outcome of which would determine their approach to outlined solution in order to advise the ministry of trade appropriately on the subject. He revealed that when his committee approached the Ministry on the matter their response is always that it’s a liberal market which he stated that, they as a committee on trade can’t go beyond giving advice.

He added that the Ministry of Trade should come up with a price tag for the basic commodities, according to him some countries in the sub region have done this best practice and it worked out well for them which Gambia could imitate as a best practice.

The Chairperson stated that, as people representatives are mandated to make laws but the implementation of this instrument entirely depends on the ministries which include the Ministry of the trade. He added that, if the cost of the  bag of rice is pegged at D1000 , then he as a member of the parliament is not exempted in this , he added that, its everyone’s concern to address this problem collectively .

He added that, one major factor which cripples the performance of the sector is lack of capacity to manage the core functions of the ministry ,he added that, you can’t employ a person just for the purpose of employing  the person but the person needs to deliver to improve the sector . He added that the members of the parliament make very good laws but the implementation which is the responsibility of the executives remains a big challenge.

“if we make good laws in the parliament, we expect the executives to implement them  and later assess its impact on the life and livelihood to measure its efficacy but if the cabinet cannot do this what is the essence of us sitting here crafting laws which are not going to be implemented” He queried.

He further challenged the executives to action the legislative instruments or else they become a death law. He cautioned.

 

By Alkali Cham