KMC CEO Maintains Duty is still D5 As some vendors start paying D10 By Mustapha Jallow Foroyaa Following the publication in yesterday’s Foroyaa issue of reports from sources at the Serekunda Central Market that the daily duty of D5 which the vendors have been paying has now been increased to D10 but has not yet taken effect, this reporter visited the Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) to get official confirmation or otherwise of this claim. In an interview with Mr. Mustapha Njie, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of KMC, in his office yesterday, Monday 24, March, 2014, he said the duty was still D5.00 but added that it would be increased later. However, when this reporter visited the Serekunda market after meeting with the KMC CEO, he found out that some vendors had started paying D10 as duty and was even shown a ticket with this new amount on it. Speaking to some of the vendors on their views on this new development, one Adama Joof, a fish seller, expressed concern about the increase; that it is coming at a time when sales are decreasing because of weak purchasing power of customers. “We are experiencing very low sales now because our customers are not patronizing us as they used to do before,” she disclosed. She said the D5 increase should not be seen as a small amount of money, because of the fact that they incur a lot of expenses in the purchasing and transportation of fish, and that this is an extra cost on them. Fatou Charreh, another vendor, who also confirmed paying D10 as duty, lamented the increase. She said they are not opposed to paying duty but that the authorities should consider their situation as struggling family heads who are trying to make ends meet to be able to sustain their families. “The increase would have been justifiable if we were making good profits, but with such small profits as D50, what does the Council stand to gain from such petty traders?” she asked. Also lamenting the increase is Cherno Barry, a vendor, who also argued that Council should not reverse the decision. All those who were interviewed confirmed paying D10 as duty to the KMC collectors. They all expressed their concern regarding the increase and wished that the Council considers maintaining the amount at D5. Foroyaa will visit the Council again to show them the sample of a D10 ticket issued to vendors at the market.
Posted on: Wed, 26 Mar 2014 20:04:16 +0000
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