In a recent interview on GRTS, President Yahya Jammeh disclosed that the government of The Gambia will this year embark on strategies that will not only govern rent but also other needs of Gambians. This, when successfully completed, will help eradicate the perpetual harassment or humiliation of tenants by landlords in the country.

According to President Jammeh, this is one of the reasons he had to take intervene by taking over the affairs of local authorities by appointing interim administrations.

“The rent tribunal has not worked and as a result it was necessary for me to take over directly and appoint interim administrations in local government areas because the institutions that were supposed to protect the people have failed,” he added.

“These,” Jammeh went on, “are fellow Gambians who have decided not to protect their fellow Gambians but instead expose Gambians to more exploitation by unscrupulous and ungodly people.”

Turning the discussion on dealers in livestock and marine products, Mr Jammeh warned that the envisaged initiative will not spare all those who have developed the habit of overcharging Gambians, saying that they will be made to pay a price for it.

“It will cost Gambians but it will cost them more as individual,” he fumed.

President Jammeh however blamed Gambians for allowing foreigners to dominate such critical areas. “If you go to Abuko, 98% of the people you find there are foreigners. They buy cattle from our fathers and uncles and come and sell it to us at exorbitant prices and they are not even Gambians.”

He intimated that the salvation from such situation has to come from Gambians by way of a resolution to take charge of all those areas that are essential to our existence as a nation.