By Tabora Bojang
Trade minister Lamin Jobe has disclosed that government is making arrangements for the shipment of thousands of rams from Mauritania for the upcoming Eid-ul-Adha, Tobaski. There are concerns that with the border closure because of the pandemic, rams would be scarce.
However according to the minister,government is cognisant of the economic uncertainties brought by the coronavirus pandemic and has instituted a cabinet sub-committee including Ministries of Trade, Local Government, Foreign Affairs, Health and Agriculture tasked to put mechanisms in place to make rams accessible and affordable to citizens.
“In fact, we are discussing with some Gambians who have access to Mauritania to allow them to bring the rams on a vessel to the Banjul port, so that there will be no shortages,” minister Jobe said.
He added: “We have learned that some people are still trying to sneak through the borders but the security is very much alert to curtail that. We are not encouraging any rams coming through the land borders that is why we are coordinating to ensure that the bulk of rams will come by vessel.”
The trade minister disclosed that the government is also considering to either lower or remove tax on rams both at central government and municipal levels “so as to make ram affordable for Gambians.”
