FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Business, civil
society and youth ask the Gambia to prioritize poor and vulnerable in its
Covid-19 response plan
Banjul- April 8, 2020 - A four-page proposal entitled: “Draft
Concept Paper for a Stimulus Plan: ‘Addressing the Socio-economic Impact of the
Coronavirus on lives and livelihoods’” calling on the government of
President Adama Barrow to prioritize its resource allocation to the poor,
vulnerable and struggling SMEs and strategic businesses, was released today. It
details modes of financial assistance to the poor and vulnerable to provide
cash transfers/payments using Government – to – person (G2P) and other
mechanisms to cover three months of lost income to those who have lost their
jobs and/or their incomes due to Covid – 19.
It also proposes the introduction of systems and mechanisms to obtain
data on the informal sector, like taxi drivers via the Transport Union to
assist them with fuel subsidy using fuel coupon schemes, to incentivize those
who adhere to the 50% passenger regulation.
It also proposes support to SME’s/businesses affected by the economic
slowdown in the form of tax and import duty rebates, access to foreign
currency, concessional loans and other economic stimulants. It proposes a set aside financial package of thirty
million dollars for this.
“We understand the rationale for
a effecting a State of Public Emergency, we concur that this is indeed is a
necessary strategy to ‘flattening the curve’. However, a State of Public
Emergency, where movement and freedoms are curtailed, must include incentives
and other actions that would buffer against the opportunity cost and
consequences of such a decision. It must
give [financial] incentives to the populace and the various sectors of the
nerve center of the economy. It must
have the backing of the public, without which any plan will not succeed,”
said one of the authors of the plan.
The backers of the plan, which
includes the Gambia Chamber of Commerce, have asked President Barrow to
consider giving support to strengthen the Central Bank’s Supervision Department
to better manage the licensing, regulation and supervision of the banking
sector and mobile money operations. It also proposes a lowering of interest
rates and introduction of deferrals on repayment of loans in critical sectors,
like the hospitality industry, to cover the January- May 2020 period, where
loss of tourist revenue has had a direct impact on the sector. Eighteen million dollars is proposed, as an
allotment, for this component.
“This proposal is smart, realistic, time bound, attainable and
applicable to our unique circumstances as a nation that is struggling
economically, and is still to recover from a legacy of attendant corruption,
and poor governance experienced over a period of 22 years of its half a century
of existence,” said one of the endorsees of the proposal.
The proposal is coming at a time
when the country rests at a precipice of a health, social and economic
catastrophe, as it stares down into an abyss whose depths are unknown. In a letter, which accompanied the submission
sent to the President Barrow, the endorsers stated that:
‘We hope that this modest proposal will be taken in the spirit in which
it is meant: to strengthen our national response to the situation through
collective action; transparent partnership led by an accountable government and
supported by a willing and able citizenry at home and abroad.’
Background:
The proposal has been forward to
the Authority of the national Assembly and the multi-lateral and bilateral
partners of The Gambia. The proposal was endorsed by: Gambia
Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI); BPAS- Democratic Union of Gambian
Activists (DUGA); Gambia Participates; Gambia Conference of Reforms and Democracy
(GAMCORD); Right to Know (R2K) Gambia; The Association of Non-Governmental
Organizations in the Gambia (TANGO); and Team Gom Sa Borpa.
For more information, please
contact: r2kgambia@gmail.com
***End***
Context:
Gambian President, Adama Barrow,
declared a State of Public Emergency, in a televised statement, on 27 March.
The proclamation orders closure of non-essential commodity shops, bars, cafés,
casinos, sporting venues, and all forms of public gatherings. The order also
included all public and private institutions scaling down staff presence at
work. It was revealed that an Emergency Fund of half a billion dalasi has been
earmarked to tackle the Covid-19 outbreak, which had infected four and killed
two. On 3 April 2020, the National Assembly granted the President an extension
to the proclamation by an added 45 days.
A detailed plan of the Covid-19 task force, nor has its aggregated budget
been made public. The National Assembly has constituted an oversight committee
that would monitor the implementation of the Covid-19 task force.
