The Gambia Transport Union has called off their proposed strike action which supposed to start on Monday after The Gambia government has agreed to review the proposed fare tariff by the drivers.
A last-minute meeting on Sunday led to the drivers pulling out of their strike after government agreed for a taskforce to be set up to review the proposed fare tariff.
According to the agreement document released to the public, a taskforce will review the proposed fare tariff with a view to introducing a “much fairer commuter fare system that will serve the interest of both commuters and drivers in The Gambia for implementation by October 2021”.
The agreement was signed by Interior Minister, Honorable Yankuba Sonko and drivers’ chief Omar Ceesay.
The government earlier said in a statement: “Government have agreed to reduce the Senegambia Bridge crossing user charges across all vehicle categories. This is not only because of the union demand, but also by the transitioning from the interim toll management tariff modelled to the existing ferry tariff to the Toll Plaza system which does not factor weight and only charges by vehicle category/size.
“Government received the request for general transport fares increment from the union in May 2021 and replied that we would initiate the review and consultation process on this and requested for details breakdown of tariff input cost for technical assessment. In so doing, in the interim to end December 2021 requested the union to delay the measure to the New Year, January 2021. The union replied agreeing to the government proposition and suggested instead – fuel price reduction. Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs responsible for fuel price setting was approached for concession on this matter. The Ministry agreed to freeze fuel pump prices in The Gambia since June 2021 to the rest of the year and now further provide additional concession by committing to reduce the prices of fuel beginning the month of October, 2021.”
“That the price setting and notification are made monthly allowing for oil marketing companies to adjust their importation plans. It’s noteworthy that pump prices in the Gambia while considered high mirrors fairly the international oil prices and much lower in the region compared to our neighbors. The monthly oil price setting mechanism in use here in the Gambia guarantees stability and availability where elsewhere shortages and queuing at the pump is frequent. The union insisting on getting the reduction in September and by whooping D6.50 well after the September price notice is agreed with Oil Marketing Companies (OMC) is the principal disagreement over this matter. MOFEA have written a letter that they will reduce the pump price by the 1st October, 2021 and made it available to the union.”
“Ministry of Trade have engaged stakeholders, the managements of GPA, GRA, Clearing and Forwarding Agents, Locateurs (transit good agents) since the last union action at the Ports of Banjul. No consensus on the re-introduction of the queue was reached and agreed to by the stakeholders. Last time government imposed the queue, the transit good agents counter-strike and the measure have to be suspended. The government is faced with the challenge of arbitrating fairly and in the national interest and in principle agreed to establish a framework for transit good transportation arrangement to increase participation of The Gambia registered vehicles in the transit good business.
“The guideline or framework will cover registration, tariff, roadworthiness, operations among others. Government requested for additional time of one (1) month to develop one, validate it and push it through the approval process,” it added.
