By Mustapha Jarju
Commercial drivers within the Greater Banjul Area have announced their commitment to strike over high cost of fuel while they wish to increase transport fares
“I am ready for the sit-down strike as there are a lot of challenges which need to be solved at the government level. This will favour us the drivers because the roads are not good and fuel price is costly,” Omar Jallow plying Coastal Road to Serrekunda route expressed his readiness for the strike.
He said the poor road network is another issue because when their vehicles get damage they always find it difficult to maintain them and there is no garage, so government need to consider their plight
Jallow went further that “there is need for fare increment which will be better for the drivers because if you have a family it is challenging, you cannot be watching your family suffering because earning less. On Monday we will not work. This sit-down strike will not affect us because we will be using our savings during the period rather it will disturb our customers,” he said with confidence.
Baboucarr Sillah, a taxi driver also said that he is ready to comply with the plan “we drivers are looking for passengers but the police usually disturb us when it comes to differentiating no parking and stopping areas on the road.”
“I think no parking and no stopping have difference” no stopping you should not stop at the designated area totally, but for no parking you can stop in short time to pick or drop your passenger, but the police are really disturbing us over this which need to be regulated,” he stated.
He therefore alleged that “At times the police will collect D50 or D100 from us due to the aforementioned misinterpreted regulations that the police will apply on us in the road, they use to do this without the rule of the law. I will park my vehicle and will not go for work for the benefit of all.”
Meanwhile, Garage Manager of Brikama Garage in Serekunda Modou Mbaye, said his garage is ready to comply with the position of the transport union. But if nothing changes in the planned strike action, he will advise all the drivers at the garage to sit home. Saying there is no designated garage in the country except Brikama garage with other challenges which need to be addressed.
Modou Ceesay also a driver said: “If they cannot increase fare let them reduce fuel price. I am listening to the Gambia Transport Union whatever they say is what we are adopting”. If the Transport Union asked drivers to stop, I have no power in that therefore commercial drivers will not go to work during the period.”
