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| toubab1020 |
Posted - 30 Jun 2019 : 13:20:54
IF this article is accurate then this situation COULD escalate into a SERIOUS problem in relations between Gambis and Senegal.
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June 29, 2019
Some people claiming to be acting under the authority of The Gambia Transport Union this morning started asking Senegalese truck drivers to leave The Gambia without their expressed will. This followed what they called Senegal’s refusal to allow Gambian truckers to cross the border to transport goods into the sister neighboring country. Gambian truck drivers also denied access to pickup goods from Senegal to drop them off into The Gambia, they said.
There is confusion in Banjul as we file this story. The situation could escalate into a full blown crisis if not handled with care.
Meanwhile, President Barrow, has left Banjul last night for Nigeria, according to one security chief, who spoke to us. The security officer said they are aware of dispute between The Gambian transporters and their Senegalese counterparts.
https://www.freedomnewspaper.com/2019/06/29/gambian-transporters-chase-out-senegalese-truckers-amid-dispute-over-border-crossing-related-issues/ |
| 2 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| toubab1020 |
Posted - 02 Jul 2019 : 20:19:19
July 2, 2019
By Momodou Top
The ministry of trade yesterday called a press conference to address mounting confusion in the transit trade involving vehicle owners and the Gambia National Transport Union, GNTU.
Mod Ceesay, the permanent secretary at the ministry said early last month his ministry and the Gambia police received complaints from an agent regarding the conduct of the GNTU.
He added that the agents complained of the introduction of truck queuing or ticketing in Abuko, Bund Road as well as the impounding of vehicles belonging to one Alieu Secka by the GNTU.
Mr Secka condemned that action by the GNTU and explained that subjecting transit goods to queuing will bring about unintended consequences of congestion and delays at the port of Banjul.
“This could attract similar restrictions on Gambian truckers plying international corridors,” he warned.
He added that such action will erode the competitiveness of The Gambia’s port and make the destination expensive for vessel berthing.
Mr. Ceesay accordingly warned the GNTU to desist from seizing and impounding vehicles by themselves and urged them to report complaints to the police or law enforcement officers.
He said the Transport Union and operators must understand that there are other stakeholders in the value chain, principally Government, GPA, drivers, vehicle owners, clearing agents among others whose interest must also be safeguarded.
He assured that legislative and regulatory framework is being put in place defining clearly the formation and governance of union, but until then the status quo should be maintained.
He reminded them of the existing decision that “transit goods under WTO and ECOWAS Conventions should not be subjected to local or national controls and regulations.”
https://standard.gm/motie-warns-stakeholders-against-hampering-transit-trade/ |
| toubab1020 |
Posted - 30 Jun 2019 : 13:24:16
Thice from The Freedom Newspaper:
June 29, 2019
The Gambian transporters are right. The marginalization of our truckers is enough. They have a family to feed, like their Senegalese and Guinean counterparts.
Contrary to earlier reports that Senegalese truckers were being chased out of the country, credible reports now have it that the Senegalese and Guinean truckers left The Gambia on Saturday morning on their own. No one forces them to leave town. They left on their own terms. This followed failed talks held by The Gambia Truckers Association in collaboration with the Gambian government. The goal for the meeting was to have the foreign truckers comply with the queuing procedure at the Abuko, and Bunroad garages.
In attendance at the meeting was the Inspector General police, the Chief of Defence Staff, Trade Ministry PS and an official of the State House. A Diplomat from Guinea Bissu was also present at the meeting including some Guinean and Senegalese transporters.
At the meeting, an official from the State House made a revelation that 75 percent of the containers that docked at the port of Banjul are re-export trade containers. The official also said government relies heavily on such taxes to pay salaries and take care of basic necessities. The official made the disclosure on Friday at the meeting witnessed by the security chiefs.
The Senegalese and Guinean transporters upon hearing such revelation (state secret) have decided to leave the country in protest. They said they wouldn’t be forced to follow any que or line because the containers that docked in Banjul belong to them.
It was later found out that some of the foreign truckers do not own some of the containers they claimed.
The dispute between the foreign truckers and their Gambian colleagues have been a long standing problem. The GP was in the picture. One Bansang native, who tried to jump the que recently had his truck impounded by The Gambian transporters. Some senior government officials had to intervene on his behalf. Among them of Mai Fatty. A relative of President Barrow also called to plead with the transporters to release the truc, which was held at Bunroad.
https://www.freedomnewspaper.com/2019/06/29/no-one-forces-senegalese-transporters-to-leave-town-they-left-won-their-own/ |
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