Editor,

I salute your reporter, Sheriff Janko, for the following words "despite the boom in the industry, one noticeable fact is that it is quite uncommon to come across indigenous Gambians in the trade. This, unfortunately, is a disturbing trend for the country".

This is a cautioning statement and a wake up call for our Gambian brothers and sisters to venture into the private sector... The environment is right; we have three things going for us:

1. Good governance, we have an effective system in place to allow us to register businesses. The government only has to consider lowering registration fees and reasonable requirements for our first time business owners/small business entrepreneurs.

2. Emerging banks must be able to extend loans to our petty traders and other businesses that need the service. I strongly believe that MDI, GTTI, The University Of The Gambia and other institutions are equipped enough and ready to capitalise on this new business trend to educate our Gambian entrepreneurs to venture into this booming fast food industry and other ventures to make hay while the sun shine.

3. A great business environment which is backed by high demand for goods and services, and we are also witnessing a growing agricultural industry that is being complemented by a strong National Agricultural Policy that stems from State House.
My simple advice to our Gambian entrepreneurs through the auspices of the Department of State for Trade and The Gambia Chamber of Commerce is to collaboratively extend our focus beyond our immediate environs, we must be prepared to do business with foreign visitors, compete aggressively and also be motivated to expand nationally. Trade fairs/promotions can be regularly organised from Banjul to Basse.

I personally experienced how we impacted economic activity during the recent National Youth Conference at Farafenni. The local business community was appreciative of our presence. As Gambians, we got to go around the country and spend our dalasis and impact on socio-economic activities; we have to develop homeland tourist instincts by travelling to the hinterland and we can also arrest/minimize the rural urban drift and maybe help stop the "back way syndrome".

Such nationalistic attitudes must be entrenched in us for our common good, like when we visited Kanilai in January purposely to extend our condolences to His Excellency the President of the Republic, and enroute  purchased goods like firewood, charcoal, fruits and other items from the local populace and beverages/soft drinks from Sindola Camp.
Let's go for it! Yes we can!

latjorr@yahoo.com