Production of goods and services depends largely on energy sources. When electricity supply is unreliable and expensive, the cost and delay in production would increase. Consequently, the consumer would be disadvantaged in two ways.
There would be delay in accessing goods and services and the cost would also increase. That is the state of play in The Gambia today after Nawec increased its tariff on electricity and water supply. Those who sell ice, and welders who use electricity in general to produce or render service are claiming that their costs of production have gone up, thus impacting on the prices of goods and services.
Food and service inflation is causing greater hardship on poor consumers. There is need for consumer protection if hardship is to be reduced. The constitution is very clear. Authority must be derived from the people, but must be used to promote the general welfare of the people. Authority that does not promote the general welfare is alien to democracy.
