By Seedy Jobe
In a wide-ranging interview on West Coast Radio, Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda of the Kanifing Municipal Council and a prominent member of the Unite Movement for Change (UMC) signaled that addressing the country’s soaring cost of living would be his top priority in the first 100 days of office.
“The most pressing issue is the cost of living. That is more important than the constitution,” Mayor Bensouda said. “You have to have a full belly to think about laws, and today the suffering of the average Gambian is beyond what anybody would think.”
While he emphasized the urgency of economic relief, Mayor Bensouda also expressed support for constitutional reforms, particularly regarding the Public Order Act and presidential term limits. “I think there are certain laws that could not wait for the full constitution process to end,” he said.
To combat rising living costs, Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda proposed a series of economic initiatives focused on strengthening local production and optimizing the use of foreign aid. He criticized current government spending, calling for leaner budgets and more targeted support for domestic industries.
“Action is needed,” Bensouda said, pointing to what he described as bloated government expenditures. He stressed the importance of nurturing local sectors, including poultry farming and furniture manufacturing.
Highlighting the potential of domestic production, he questioned the necessity of importing eggs when local poultry businesses could receive government support. “I don’t see why there should be any importation of eggs in The Gambia when there are so many local poultry outfits that could be subsidized,” he said. He also suggested sourcing furniture for government offices locally, noting that such a move could create jobs and foster economic growth. “How many jobs could that create? That could introduce economies of scale,” he added.