Following the recent ultimatum issued by President Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh setting this Thursday as the deadline for the price of meat to be reduced, some butchers across the Kanifing Municipality were reported to have gone on a “sit-down strike”.

This development has prompted the immediate reaction of the authorities at the KMC, who were said to have mounted an investigation before the mayor summoned a meeting on Monday. This meeting targeted all the stakeholders, including butchers and the security services.

Speaking at the KMC chambers, where the Monday meeting was convened, Mayor Yankuba Kolley said he had received a tip-off, last Thursday night, that some butchers were on the verge of organising a ‘sit-down strike,’ which, he said, came to him as a surprise. He added that he and his market management team immediately mounted an investigation across the municipality to see for themselves the activities on the ground. He said that the investigation accorded them the opportunity to take a list of those on strike.  He further said that they had to seize the stalls of those butchers on strike, as a way of creating room for those who wanted to continue with the business.

Mayor Colley reiterated that he would not compromise the decision or orders issued by the Gambian leader, noting that anything the president had said was in the interest of the nation.

He vowed that he would not compromise with anybody who wants to undermine the efforts of President Jammeh. He further stated that he would not give back the stalls confiscated from the butchers, and warned that anybody found guilty of any dubious practices would face the full force of the law. The KMC mayor added that they would be constantly monitoring the market to wipe out activities that were against the interests of the nation.

Commenting on the treacherous technique of some butchers who under weigh the meat they sell by loosening the knots of their weighing scales, the KMC mayor promised that the situation would be highly monitored, vowing that anybody found guilty would face the penalty set for the offence. He used the occasion to urge all the butchers to respect the decision of the President, adding that the peace and tranquillity of the nation cannot be compromised. Whether Gambian or non-Gambian, he said, it is the duty of everyone to ensure that such objectives are achieved.

Speaking earlier, Commissioner Kebbeh of  The Gambia Police Force thanked the mayor for the brilliant initiative, and further advised the butchers to obey the ultimatum issued by the the Gambian leader, noting that anybody found breaching the orders would face the full force of the law.  He said that before the president issued the ultimatum, he had organised a meeting with the butchers prior to the one held with the paramount chief. He reminded the gathering that they had agreed at that meeting that the price of meat and bone should remain at D75, and steak at D90 per kilo. But, he said, some butchers went ahead to break the agreement and increase the price to D80 meat and bone, and D100 steak.

The KMC Serekunda Market manager, Papa Njie, expressed similar sentiments. Also speaking at the occasion were Sheriff Nying, Alagie Buba Gaye, Sulayman Jarju, all of whom spoke on behalf of the butchers, expressing their willingness to comply.
Aja Ara Jatta, Oley Jum and Amie Njie all spoke at length about their willingness to support the president’s decision.

It could be recalled that President Jammeh earlier on issue an ultimatum following persistent reports of illegal increases in the price of meat and other commodities.