By Lamin Njie
Some gym owners in the country have been arrested after they opened their gyms in defiance of lockdown rules.
Gym owners have been feeling the full pinch of the restrictions placed on ‘non-essential’ public-place businesses under the state of public emergency.
Some then took matters into their own hands after their efforts for their businesses to reopen fell on stony ground. They were then then arrested.
One of them told The Fatu Network: “There’s are some whose landlords want to kick them out because they can’t pay their rent.
“We have written to the government through National Sport Council and we met them [NSC].
“Since the lockdown, we have tried by all means to comply with the rules but it’s now been three months. We have families to feed. And this is why some of us decided to open our gym.”
Police spokesman Lamin Njie (not the author of this story) said some gym operators in the Kanifing Municipality and West Coast Region were indeed arrested.
“They have been charged with offenses contrary to the emergency powers regulations,” Superintendent Njie said.
He added: “We are also receiving reports that some video clubs have started operations. We wish to urged them to continue adhering to the regulations until such times they are officially lifted.
“Video club owners found wanting of violations will equally be prosecuted accordingly.”
