President Barrow has been cautioned not to raise taxes by the National Assembly Member for Latrikunda, who claims that his administration has already left The Gambia poorer than Dawda Kairaba Jawara and Yahya Jammeh put together. President Barrow said that his administration would increase fees on various services, such passports and medical consultations, among others, in order to reduce reliance on foreign assistance. This announcement kicked off his meet-the-people visit in Nuimi on Tuesday.
However, Yahya Sanyang wrote the president in an open letter that was obtained by The Standard, saying, "Many Gambians are suffering, hopeless, and dying in the deep sea as a result of your government's failure to address the fundamental issues plaguing our nation." The ministry of finance, which represents your government, has recently unveiled yet another appalling budget for 2024.The typical Gambian's buying power is being eroded by inflation and the high unemployment rates that plague the country, particularly among the rural population who cast large ballots in every election. The rising cost of living has made fundamental needs like food, money, and shelter more and more expensive. However, your government's reaction has been dreadfully insufficient, providing the suffering people with little comfort. To make matters worse, you said with pride that you will raise taxes, health care costs, and living expenses for the Gambians while on your "meet the people" visit. I would suggest that you reduce the over one billion dalasi budget allotted to the president's office rather than raising taxes and funding health care for the underprivileged. Mistakes and negligence have caused the healthcare system to collapse. In addition to the scarcity of trained medical personnel and the lack of necessary supplies and equipment in hospitals, your government has chosen to give over 60 million dalasi for the treatment of senior civil servants abroad, while the impoverished rely on our subpar health services. An already overloaded population will be further burdened by the anticipated rise in healthcare prices, making it difficult for many to get even the most basic medical treatment. "Mr. President, let me draw your attention to the fact that the cost of food, gasoline, and other necessities has been rising, making it harder for Gambians to make ends meet," he said. It is becoming more difficult for families to afford a healthy diet due to the rising costs of staple foods like bread, rice, and oil. Budgets for households are further strained by the growth in transportation expenditures....
