By Lamin Njie
The ministry of trade said Thursday there is adequate stocks of all ‘essential’ food commodities amid fear stocks may dry up due to the coronavirus crisis.
“The ministry would like to inform the general public that there is adequate stocks of all essential food commodities in the country and hence no course [sic] for panic,” the ministry said in a statement.
According to the trade ministry, the stocks of rice with the major importers in the country stands at 18, 214 metric tonnes and the expected stocks for the next week is estimated at 20,000 metric tonnes.
“The two combined is more than the two months average consumption level for The Gambia,” the ministry said in its statement.
The trade minister also warned the business community not to use the “current situation to exploit the consumers by hoarding, hiking prices and other anti-competitive practices which are all illegal under the laws of The Gambia.”
“The ministry will therefore use all its surveillance mechanisms to closely monitor the situation and anybody found wanting will face the full force of the law,” the ministry said.
