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toubab1020
12236 Posts |
 Posted - 07 Apr 2020 : 20:35:09
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https://foroyaa.gm/drivers-at-the-brikama-car-park-on-sit-down-strike/
SNIPPET:
"According to Sowe, they have heard the Minister’s response but have never met him to discuss these issues; that they have attempted without success to see him on several occasions and the response they got was that he has been busy. Sowe said the Minister is obliged to listen to their concerns and address the situation."
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y Louise Jobe on April 7, 2020
Drivers at the Brikama car park on Monday 6th April 2020, embarked on a sit down strike to express their frustrations on the standoff between motorists and passengers.
Buba Sowe, Vice President of the West Coast Transport Unit at the Brikama car park said since the declaration by the President to downsize passengers on commercial vehicles across the country, their earnings have decreased; that reducing their passengers by half the registered number of passengers they should carry on their vehicles, has not favored them at all; that both commercial vehicle drivers and passengers complain and demand for suggestions for a way forward to ameliorate the current situation in the transport sector.
Sowe further said since the complaints reached them, they contacted the Police to invite them for a discussion on the issue, but that this was never referred to the Ministry of Transport for clarification.
According to Sowe, they have heard the Minister’s response but have never met him to discuss these issues; that they have attempted without success to see him on several occasions and the response they got was that he has been busy. Sowe said the Minister is obliged to listen to their concerns and address the situation.
Lamin Sabally, the Auditor General of the West Coast Transport Unit said the price of fuel does not favor them at the moment; that by reducing one dalasi on the pump price of fuel has not impacted positively on their work.
Sabally said the unpleasant encounters between the Traffic Police Task Force and drivers has led many drivers to park their vehicles; that they did not want to violate Government rules and policies in place but rather to stay away. He said the Gambia Transport Union is fully aware of the ongoing situation of the transport industry in the country; that the Police are parking vehicles for the increment in fares by drivers even when passengers agree with apprentice on fares.
According to one passenger, they pay hundred dalasi per individual on board a taxi from Brikama to Gunjur because most van drivers have stopped operation. The affected passenger said Government should be held responsible for all their transportation predicaments and for not coming forward to clarify the ongoing situation.
According to one affected driver, he spends D1,500 on fuel to ply between Brikama and Sibanor only to carry ten passengers; that this gives him only D400.00 because the fare between these two destinations is D40.00.
He concludes by pleading to Government through the Ministry of Transport and Communication to address the ongoing transport woes with utmost urgency, before it is too late.
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"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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toubab1020
12236 Posts |
Posted - 09 Apr 2020 : 16:11:31
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https://standard.gm/govt-denies-reducing-transport-fares/
SNIPPET
"The Ministry of Works "
has strenuously denied claims that government has unilaterally reduced transport fares across the country."
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By Momodou Justice Darboe April 9, 2020
The Ministry of Works has strenuously denied claims that government has unilaterally reduced transport fares across the country.
The Gambia Trade Union Congress made these allegations Tuesday and called on commercial drivers to embark upon a general strike until government rescinds what it called its ‘unilateral’ decision to reduce transport fares.
But in a rather swift and terse reaction to news of the alleged tariff reduction, Mod K Ceesay, permanent secretary, Ministry of Transport, told The Standard that there was no such thing and the whole issue was just a storm in a teacup.
“Let me tell you that there is no price reduction or any price increase. The existing approved tariff is what is maintained during the period of emergency. I think I cannot be clearer than that. Sometimes we make too much noise about nothing,” he said.
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"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Edited by - toubab1020 on 09 Apr 2020 16:18:16 |
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toubab1020
12236 Posts |
Posted - 10 Apr 2020 : 10:20:30
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http://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/article/15-driverssentenced-for-violating-ptepr
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Thursday, April 9, 2020 Author: Dawda Faye
Alhagie Basiru Jallow, Tijan Jeng, Muhammed Suso, Lamin Saidyleigh, Saikou Bah, Ousman Fofana, Samba Jeng, Lamin Fatty, Momodou Alieu Kanteh, Ousman Touray, Kawsu Sawaneh, Essa Jeng, Banna Saho, Omar Touray and Fabakary Bajo were on 6 April, 2020, convicted and sentenced to a fine of D5,000 in default to serve six months’ imprisonment. The Kanifing Magistrates’ Court presided over by Magistrate P. Sarr convicted them for carrying greater number of passengers than authorised to carry, contrary to Section 2 (1) (a) and punishable under Section 9 (1) of the restriction of Public Transport Emergency Powers Regulations, (PTEPR) 2020. This followed their plea of guilt.
Dawda Sanneh, Baba Jallow, Kalilu Jallow and Basiru Secka pleaded not guilty while Madi Faal and Amadou Jallow were absent.
In her judgment, the presiding magistrate told the court that she had heard all the convicts’ plea in mitigation and she must say that it had moved her a lot and that they had shown sufficient remorse. She added that for the fact that they were first-time offenders too, she would resolve in their favour.
However, she added, to every crime there is a punishment, and punishments are forms of deterrent to the convicts and would-be perpetrators. “I must emphasise the fact that the offence the convicts committed is very serious, taking into consideration the covid-19 pandemic which is a global issue and it has cost the lives of thousands of people around the world including The Gambia,” she stated.
She further noted that the said regulations are made during an emergency situation and should be respected by all, irrespective of our backgrounds and professions. She added that we, as a nation, should all be in this fight together so that we can help drive away the said coronavirus from The Gambia and the world as a whole.
“Therefore each and every individual has a role to play in the fight against covid-19. It is not news to anyone in The Gambia that the president of the republic has declared a state of emergency and has given certain regulations to be followed which are in line with the WHO guide lines and our local health experts. The convicts did not only put themselves at risk of spreading this deadly virus but the nation as a whole,” she opined.
Magistrate P. Sarr further said that she would in the interest of justice temper justice with mercy and not give the convicts the maximum sentence which is a fine of D10,000 but sentence them to pay a fine of D5,000 each in default to serve six months’ imprisonment.
Prosecutors alleged that on 6 April, 2020, at Churchill’s Town, in the Kanifing Municipality of the Republic of The Gambia, being commercial drivers and while driving motor vehicle registration numbers: BJL 7136 G licenced to carry 14 passengers, NBD 2230 A licenced to carry 14 passengers, KM 4515 C licensed to carry 14 passengers, BJL 5729 S licenced to carry 14 passengers, BJL 7829 Q licenced to carry 14 passengers, WCR 4593 P licenced to carry 14 passengers, BJL 5476 S licenced to carry 14 passengers, BJL 0751 R licenced to carry 14 passengers, BJL 5884 R licenced to carry 14 passengers, WCR 4510 A licenced to carry 14 passengers, NBR 0401 A licenced to carry 14 passengers, BJL 7536 R licenced to carry 14 passengers, BJL 1254 K licenced to carry 14 passengers, BJL 0186 Q licenced to carry 14 passengers, BJL 4813 S licenced to carry 14 passengers, BJL 9952 K licensed to carry 14 passengers, BJL 7868 H licenced to carry 14 passengers, WCR 6110 A licenced to carry 14 passengers, BJL 7940 L licenced to carry 14 passengers, BJL 9567 Q licenced to carry 14 passengers, BJL 6259 B licenced to carry 14 passengers and restricted by the Public Transport Emergency Powers Regulations to carry not more than half of 14 passengers, they carried more than the restricted number of passengers.
Following their plea of guilt, Superintendent Mballow, who was leading the prosecution team, read the facts to the court. He was assisted by Inspectors Sanneh, Trawally and Sergeant Camara.
The case continues on 14 April, 2020, to try those who pleaded not guilty, who were granted bail in the sum of D10,000 each with two Gambian sureties who should deposit their ID cards and swear to an affidavit of means.
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"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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toubab1020
12236 Posts |
Posted - 17 Jun 2020 : 15:42:22
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https://foroyaa.net/gambia-transport-union-threatens-sit-down-strike-on-22-june-if/
RELATED Topic:
https://www.gambia.dk/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=16942
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By Isatou Kanyi June 16, 2020
Gambia Transport Union has called on the Gambia Government to consider their demands to ease up restrictions on the number of passengers their vehicles are licensed to carry, failure which they will declare a nationwide sit down strike on 22 June 2020.
The Gambia Government restricted commercials and private vehicles from carrying their licensed number of passengers they are supposed to carry as part of measures to curb Covid-19.
At the press conference at the Union’s Office in Banjul Omar Ceesay – the President of the Gambia Transport Union described the relaxation of COVID-19 as unfair to drivers.
Mr Ceesay advised that Government should consider the use of face mask and other hygienic measures, adding: “We have been crying out about the issue of Garages across the country. We deem it fit that the Government should allow the commercial passenger vehicles to carry what they are licensed to carry, because all the others that are permitted possess more risk to the society than the commercial passenger vehicles,” he said.
Mr Ceessay recollected that they wrote letters to the concern line Ministries, including Transport, Justice, and Health, as well the National Assembly Select Committee; noting among others that certain restrictions were made by the Government through the Emergency Power Regulations.
Mr Ceesay said prior to all these engagements when President Adama Barrow declared that drivers should carry 50% of what they are licensed to carry, they heard rumours of planned demonstration by drivers across the country; “but we stood on our feet and make sure all drivers across the country adhered to the regulations.”
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"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Edited by - toubab1020 on 17 Jun 2020 15:57:29 |
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toubab1020
12236 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jun 2020 : 10:22:51
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https://standard.gm/transport-ps-says-drivers-strike-will-fail/
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By Momodou Darboe June 22, 2020
The Ministry of Transport has admitted that the demands put to the government by drivers are legitimate but that meeting them remains a tall order.
Gambia Transport Union last week called for a strike action telling commercial vehicle drivers to stay away from the roads from this morning after the union’s demands for the restoration of full-load limit and garages have not been met.
In an interview with The Standard yesterday, permanent secretary at the Ministry of Works and Transport, Mod Ceesay, said he did not believe the strike would be effective as the drivers are divided.
Mr Ceesay said: “There is no magic formula to their problems, especially with the issue of garages. Garages are not going to be an over-night thing knowing the problem of land in this country. Nonetheless, we have been in consultations with the relevant authorities on the issue. It is a multi-stakeholder thing that requires a multi-pronged approach.
“We have already identified places for garages but as it is a multi-stakeholder thing, it will not be a quick fix. Garages will undoubtedly promote safety of people and their property.
“We don’t believe that the strike will go ahead because the union itself is divided, not agreeing on a unified position because others want the restrictions to remain because they say it is in their interests to maintain it. Our doors are always open and the unions are aware of this,” he explained. |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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toubab1020
12236 Posts |
Posted - 24 Jun 2020 : 11:55:03
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https://foroyaa.net/commercial-vehicle-drivers-begin-sit-down-strike-leaving-hundreds-of-commuters-stranded/
RELATED:
https://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/headlines/10-drivers-arrested
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By Makutu Manneh & Isatou Kanyi June 23, 2020
Commercial vehicle drivers across the country, have embarked on a sit down strike yesterday Monday 22nd June 2020, leaving hundreds of commuters stranded, with many others trekking to reach their destinations.
This came in the wake of the Gambia Transport Union calling on Government on the 15th of June, to consider their demands by easing up restrictions on the number of passengers their vehicles are licensed to carry, failure of which they will declare a nationwide sit down strike. Commuters complained that this has made their mobility difficult as most of them were not aware of the strike.
“I am urging Government to have dialogue with the drivers and listen to their demands. We have suffered a lot today,” Momodou Touray, a stranded passenger at Serre Kunda garage told these reporters. Momodou said he was not aware of the strike and was supposed to go for work but was stranded at the garage for hours without getting a vehicle.
Fatou Sarr, another 27-year-old stranded commuter said she trekked from Brufut to the Brusubi roundabout in order to get to her place of work.
“I have to work because I cannot stay at home without permission from my boss. This is what led to me to walk this long distance,” she said.
Jalika Jobe, a fish monger said she came to the market, but was did not sell any fish in the morning. She said few customers came to the market that day; that something needs to be done to ameliorate the situation for people to go about their normal businesses.
Sheriff Fofana, a van driver at the Serekunda Car Park said his van is licensed to carry fourteen passengers, but President Barrow ordered in a proclamation that commercial vehicles should carry the number of passengers they are licensed to carry as a precaution against Covid-19; that this is not favorable for him and that is the reason why he joined the sit down strike.
He gave marketplaces as examples where people can risk contracting the virus than commercial vehicles that are licensed to carry certain number of passengers.
Fofana said most market vendors sell from morning to evening and sit at the same place without observing any social distancing measures; that they want Government to fulfill their demands before Friday or the sit-down strike will continue.
Galo Bah, another driver at the Serre Kunda garage said they did not want any trouble; that this is reason they maintained the peace by embarking on sit-down strike; that they will abide by any orders which comes from the Government.
“The reason we are on sit-down strike is because public buses overload their vehicles as well as private vehicles. Government must allow us to carry the number of passengers we are licensed to carry” he said.
Bakary Sonko of the Serre Kunda garage said Police should respect drivers.
“The reason why police Officers are on the road is for the safety of the people which includes drivers. We urge the authorities to come to our aid and assist us,” he said.
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"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Edited by - toubab1020 on 24 Jun 2020 11:57:36 |
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toubab1020
12236 Posts |
Posted - 25 Jun 2020 : 23:21:48
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“unnecessary check points” SOME are necessary to ensure that the LAW is upheld commercial vehicles are NOT overloaded whilst the emergency Regulations apply.
Even before the Emergency passenger vehicles frequently carried MORE PASSENGERS than tey were licensed for.
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https://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/headlines/govt-transport-union-reach-consensus
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un 25, 2020, 11:34 AM
Omar Ceesay, the president of The Gambia Transport Union has told The Point that his Union and Government have come to consensus on certain terms following drivers’ sit-down strike on Monday.
These terms include provision of countrywide garage space.
“We have visited so far various locations within Banjul and its environs. Also, we now carry 75% load passengers in contrast to the initial 50%,” he said, explaining that if a vehicle carries 10 passengers as full load, it will now be 7 passengers.
It was also agreed for police to reduce “unnecessary check points” across the country.
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"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Edited by - toubab1020 on 25 Jun 2020 23:29:03 |
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Drivers at the Brikama Car Park on Sit Down Strike
