By Sailu Bah Life in Banjul is beginning to ease with vehicles now allowed to ply the roads and people moving about freely on the streets.The gunfire in Banjul on Tuesday 30th December 2014, did affect a lot of households. A lot of families were unable to cook during the incident in Banjul. The Banjul market was closed and women who went to buy foodstuff for cooking were sent back home as well as market vendors in the early hours of the morning on Tuesday 30th December 2014. The Albert Market was guarded by armed military personnel and movement within the business area of the city was halted. Military personnel were patrolling the streets. By Thursday, even though movements of people and vehicles were allowed, military checkpoints were maintained on roads leading to State House such as Independence Drive (six check points), Marina Parade (three check points) and Liberation Avenue around the Banjul market. Most of the shops which were closed were opened by Thursday. At first all entrances to Banjul were closed, both the Denton Bridge and the ferry terminal. However on Wednesday the ferry and the boats commuting between Barra and Banjul (an Island) were plying the river under the watchful eye of naval patrol boats backed up by rigorous searching by security personnel at both terminals. Checkpoints between Old Jeshwang and Banjul numbered 8. In short security is still tight. Families were worried and there was limited movement within the city of Banjul, leading to a long queue of vehicles and many people trekking to the city. President Jammeh entered Banjul on Wednesday 31st December 2014, with his convoy along the independence drive and he was in his normal outfit waving at people along the road. He entered the city around 19:00hrs in the evening. And there was a diversion of vehicles to other roads in Banjul with great traffic congestion in the city.]]>
