WOW!
Have we got a problem or what?

Jabou

In a message dated 11/5/03 3:54:32 PM Central Standard Time, 
[log in to unmask] writes:> 
> 
> 
> If you have not broken your fast, the story below will ease the hunger.
> Yahya should be performing as a comedian at the hotels to boost our tourism
> sector.
> 
> 05th November 2003
> 
> Jammeh Turns Heat On Supermarkets
> by Malick Mboob – Daily Observer
> 
> President Yahya Jammeh, still on his 'Operation No Compromise' effort,
> yesterday announced that he has already given instructions "to deal" with
> supermarkets whose prices still escalate daily.
> 
> Apparently touched about unnecessarily high prices, the president expressed
> out right disgust at businesspeople he described as 'locusts destroying one
> West African country after another' and warned them to either comply with
> his tough new economic regime or leave the country.
> 
> Speaking to journalists hours after a tour of the Kanifing municipality, the
> president said "supermarket owners think they are above the law and that
> they are not affected by the campaign.  I'm warning them because from today
> (yesterday), we are going to take on supermarkets. They are increasing
> commodities prices daily thinking that they are out of the system. We are
> going to deal with them today (yesterday). I have already given
> instructions,' he said.
> 
> On Basic Commodities
> 
> President Jammeh expressed concern on the rising prices of basic commodities
> like rice, sugar, oil and cement despite the tax-free status of most of
> these items. "There is no tax on basic commodities especially rice. Most of
> the taxes have been waived so that the prices become affordable for the
> average Gambian.  There is no justification for a price of cement costing
> D200 per bag.  We want prices to be reasonable that's why importers of rice
> are not paying taxes," he noted.
> 
> Reacting to a recent announcement of a group of businessmen who announced
> reduction in the price of rice to D450, President Jammeh told them to
> expedite the reduction before he intervenes.  "They have to bring the prices
> down immediately; otherwise, I will bring the prices down for them. I know
> the world market price for cement, rice and oil," he said.
> 
> Asked why he thinks businessmen hike prices if there were no economic basis
> for the increase, Jammeh said their action must be out of greed and
> politically motivated.
> 
> "Those who sell cement have two hours to bring down their prices or I will
> bring it down for them. Those in the supermarkets will be going back to
> where they came from. Nobody will be allowed to profiteer from manmade
> economic problems.  If they want to live in this country peacefully, they
> have to go by what the people of this country want."
> 
> President Jammeh also announced that government will now introduce a system
> that will reveal prices at which businessmen buy commodities as well as set
> what prices these commodities are sold.
> 
> "As from now on, Customs, Finance and Trade departments will be asking for a
> manifest.  If we publish the manifest and Gambians know how much businessmen
> are paying customs and what they are charging them (customers), they will
> kill most of them."
> 
> "There will be no exception on cement and rice.  Be it YDE or Boule & Co,
> there is no exception," said Jammeh.
> 
> On KMC
> 
> President Jammeh registered dismay at the activities of the Kanifing
> Municipal Council within the municipality. "I'm not proud of what I have
> seen.  It takes money to fill the potholes, that is understandable, but no
> money is required to clean the streets. As far as I am concerned, the smell
> from the market areas is unusual. What I have seen is very shocking."
> 
> The president said much is expected of KMC as regards to environmental
> health. He also urged the community to help KMC in making sure that the area
> is kept clean.
> 

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