From: [log in to unmask]
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: RE: [>-<] High Cost of Living!
Date: Wed, 27 Mar 2013 15:11:36 -0500
Koto Omar,
Thanks. So clearly a bag of rice quadrupled from 1994 to now (from D250.00 to now about D1000.00) while no one's salary increased by even a bit. We are just talking about rice. Sugar, oil, electricity, water, transport, etc is not even factored in. These prices are on the increase.
Mawdo Demba being the Peul man he is, he is comparing apples and oranges. Mawdo Demba, I am telling on you.
Humor aside, we cannot compare the dalasi and the dollar and conclude that rice is cheaper in the Gambia than in Seattle. That point is really weak. I share your other points especially Jammeh being the problem and that of Omar entirely.
You (Mawdo Demba), LJD, and the entire team to work on this fundraiser must listen to Yuse. I entirely share his pointers and I think we will see great benefits from it, than some of the other scattered things around. I think Lamin is able to come up with a working document that would help shape this effort. I was thinking of a pledge to make, I said, too bad if I should match the big bosses like Demba, but hey for the sake of the oppressed and the suffering masses, I am taking up the challenge, inshallahu. I am pledging $200.00 as you towards this funding.
Thanks & best always,
Yero
Date: Wed, 27 Mar 2013 12:09:34 -0700
Subject: Re: [>-<] High Cost of Living!
From: [log in to unmask]
To: [log in to unmask]
Guys,
In fairness, I think Gambian private businesses are trying hard to keep up with International prices. For example the D950 bag of rice is at per or even cheaper than what we buy here in the US. A bag of rice now is $43 - $50 where I live... That is about D1500 per bag.... Consider also that we don't produce enough in Gambia, cost of tariffs and excessive taxes from government they still manage to sell within reason.
I think globally commodity prices has gone up and continue to go up. If only this government will get stop messing with the private sector and allow them to be independent and complete on a level playing field, then Gambia will surely enjoy a modest cost of living compared to the rest of the world... This government is our biggest problem other wise our people are very creative in finding cheaper consumer goods...
Thanks
Demba
On Wed, Mar 27, 2013 at 11:15 AM, omar joof <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
A bag of rice used to cost D250.00. Now its up to D950.00 depending on the brand. Some of them go for more than D1000.00. The Gambian dalasi is not holding its own against major international currencies, considering the manner in which it is slumping against them. Really one starts to wonder how the country is meeting the requirements for international trade, with a view to guarantee basic development needs.
A review of the lower ranks of the intergrated payscale does not reflect any remarkable movements to compensate for high inflation. I constantly ask some of my friends in The Gambia how they make it, and they mostly evade my question with a laugh. Its really a dire situation!
Omar Joof.
From: [log in to unmask]
To: [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]
Subject: [>-<] High Cost of Living!
Date: Wed, 27 Mar 2013 10:40:50 -0500
I was alerted to the Point's Bite, one of my favorite columns online. The questioner asked if I remembered the cost of a bag of rice in 1994, to which I replied no. Looking at this review, certainly reveals of a problem that most here are aware of and probably dealing with. When you hear the criminal regime boasting of their development achievents, sell-out book authors writing registered development of this regime, vision 2020, and their overall fancy dreams of turning the Gambia into an earthly heaven, you truly faint for a while. Justice is far from it. Food sufficiency not close to being attained. Terror on citizens has been on the hike. It is a shame and truly a distraction to keep hearing these losers talk about development.
Please read....
http://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/article/high-cost-of-living
High cost of living!
africa » gambia
Tuesday, March 26, 2013Gambians and people resident in the country are experiencing one of the most trying moments in their life time.
The high cost of living in the country is making living extremely difficult for average Gambians, especially those living below the poverty line.
In today’s Gambia a bag of rice costs an exorbitant price of between D900 and D1200. While many blame the increase in the prices of goods on the newly introduced Value Added Tax (VAT), the revenue agency is saying no.
Whatever the case may be and whoever is responsible for the increase, our message is that Gambians are feeling the pinch of the problem.
For many businessmen, they are of the view that high tariffs and taxes are responsible for the recent hike in prices of essential commodities in the country.
It is a widespread belief that several businesses have not been functioning well that some major shop owners have started relocating to other countries where duties are cheaper than The Gambia.
Of recent, commodity prices assumed an upward spiral so that average family’s monthly spending on essential goods has doubled.
It is something of an irony that today, although the official inflation rate is low, the monthly spending of most Gambians have risen rapidly.
Prices of such daily necessities as food, water, electricity, are hiking and many families are already struggling under the unfortunate pressure of this rising living cost, while the prices of grocery products have continued to rise.
This situation suggests that a household spending D2500 a month on food in 2010 will now have to find at least an extra D2000.
The increase in electricity and water bills has threatened to shoot household budgets over the roof.
The income of the pensioner population is next to nothing. They are much more affected by what is happening now.
However, huge increases are being pushed through in the prices of rice and oil, because they are used widely.
The Ministry of Finance should review tariffs and taxes so that we regain the edge and competitiveness that The Gambia has been known for. They should act now before it is too late.
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