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Momodou
Denmark
11634 Posts |
 Posted - 12 Sep 2022 : 22:21:16
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PRESS RELEASE FROM THE GAMBIA TRANSPORT UNION
PRESS RELEASE
11th September 2022
The executive of the General Transport Union is hereby reminding all commercial drivers that the Union is still committed to its tomorrow's sit-down strike throughout the country. Starting Monday 12th September 2022 (00:00)
We are urging all the commercial drivers to pack their vehicles where they normally pack them, sit at their respective homes and listen to the Union.
We are finally informing our esteemed customers that we are not demanding a fare increment but a reduction in the pump price of fuel that is skyrocketing every moment.
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11634 Posts |
Posted - 13 Sep 2022 : 08:58:57
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PRESS RELEASE
12th September 2022
SUBJECT: Sit-Down Strike Continues…
The Executive of the General Transport Union hereby commends its esteemed members for their resilience and steadfastness on Day One of our industrial action throughout the country.
The perseverance of drivers and transport owners of all categories is indeed commendable.
Pending the meeting of our demands, We are again informing all our esteemed members that the ongoing sit-down strike will continue tomorrow Tuesday 13th September 2022.
We urge all drivers to stay home and calm while the Union continues its engagement to augment conditions of service. The outcome of engagements will be duly communicated to all drivers.
While we are commensurate with the plight of our loyal passengers and customers, We wish to reassure all drivers that, their welfare is the Union’s priority. |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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toubab1020
12306 Posts |
Posted - 13 Sep 2022 : 11:48:44
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https://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/headlines/police-warn-transport-ministry-put-measures-to-tackle-drivers-sit-down-strike
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#Headlines
Police warn, Transport Ministry put measures to tackle drivers’ sit-down strike
Sep 12, 2022, 12:34 PM | Article By: Pa Modou Cham
The Ministry of Transport, Works and Infrastructure on Saturday announced measures to use amid the Transports Union’s decision to withhold services throughout the country pending demands for the increment of fares and more, while The Gambia Police Force (GPF) warned against breach of peace.
The General Transport Union recently pronounced a sit-down strike throughout the country effective 12 September 2022 (today), saying it’s influenced by the high price of fuel; the high price of toll fees at the Senegambia Bridge, too many police checkpoints and expensive mandatory fines on the roads.
Ministry of Transport in a statement said it is working with the Gambia Transport Service Company (GTSC) to fully deploy its fleet of buses across the Greater Banjul Areas starting Monday. The ministry added that the deployment strategy is in line with Government’s Transport Policy to ease the difficulties commuters currently face.
The ministry maintained that in as much as it wants to champion the cause of the transport sector and negotiate a fair deal with the transporters, it is not justifiable to increase transport fares in a situation of chaos and disorder where commuters are charged multiple fares for the same route.
“Over the last two years, the Ministry of Transport came up with various initiatives including a pilot ‘route licensing model’ as a strategy to eradicate multiple charging on the same route. While the Ministry is currently studying a number of options to support the transporters and ameliorate the challenges they are going through, several innovative solutions are also being proffered obliging all commercial vehicles to have clearly identifiable stickers with indicative destinations to stop multiple charges of commuters,” the ministry stated.
On the crossing fee at the Senegambia Bridge, the ministry said the government has not increased the tariff but rather maintained the same tariff since its inauguration in 2019.
The ministry continued that there will also be special bus services on standby to respond to the upsurge in demand, especially in congested areas within the Greater Banjul Area. Meanwhile, the provincial bus services will still run as normal.
The Gambia Police Force (GPF) through the office of AIG Operations instructs that any driver who chooses to go on the proposed sit-down should park their vehicle at a private location.
“All commercial drivers who wish to continue performing their functions should not be obstructed. GPF is committed to providing security to those that are not part of the sit-down strike. Anyone found breaching the peace and security or trying to stop commercial drivers from plying the road will be dealt with accordingly,” the police warned.
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toubab1020
12306 Posts |
Posted - 13 Sep 2022 : 12:17:11
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https://standard.gm/government-moves-to-ease-impact-of-drivers-strike-0/
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On Friday the General Transport Union announced its decision to embark on a national strike beginning today. The union is demanding an increase in transport fares, reduction of police checkpoints on the roads and review of toll fees at Sene-Gambia Bridge. This has caused worry and consternation among commuters.
In a move to mitigate concerns, the Ministry of Works issued a statement contending that “it is not justifiable to increase transport fares in a situation of chaos and disorder where commuters are charged multiple fares for the same route”.
The statement read: “Over the last two years, the Ministry of Transport came up with various initiatives including a pilot route licensing model as a strategy to eradicate multiple charging on the same route. While the ministry is currently studying a number of options to support the transporters and ameliorate the challenges they are going through, several innovative solutions are also being proffered obliging all commercial vehicles to have clearly identifiable stickers with indicative destinations to stop multiple charges of commuters.
“On the crossing fee at the Sene-Gambia Bridge, it should be noted that the government has not increased the tariff but rather maintained the same tariff since the inauguration in 2019.”
The ministry announced that the Gambia Transport Service Company (GTSC) will “fully deploy its fleet of buses” across the Greater Banjul Area starting today. It said the deployment strategy is in line with Government’s Transport Policy to ease the difficulties currently faced by commuters. It could be recalled that 38 new buses were launched to curb challenges in the sector.
The bus services will run beyond normal operational hours and will cover the 14 routes in Banjul, Kanifing municipality and West Coast Region.
The ministry announced that the provincial bus services will run as normal and that special bus services will be on standby to respond to upsurge in demand especially in congested areas within the Greater Banjul Area.
In a related development, The Gambia police have warned drivers participating in the strike not to hinder or interfere with drivers who do not wish to be part of the strike. They also warned the striking drivers not to park their vehicles in public places. |
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Momodou
Denmark
11634 Posts |
Posted - 15 Sep 2022 : 17:01:01
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GTU, gov't in blame-game over Senegambia bridge tariff
The Point: Sep 15, 2022
By: Pa Modou Cham
https://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/headlines/gtu-govt-in-blame-game-over-senegambia-bridge-tariff
The General Transport Union (GTU) and the Ministry of Transport, Works and Infrastructure are blaming each other over the implementation of an initial agreement to reduce the tariff at the Senegambia Bridge on the Trans-Gambian Highway.
The bridge facilitates movements of people, goods and vehicles from the North Bank to the Lower River Region of the country.
A document revealed by the GTU indicates that motorcycles and taxis should pay a tariff of D50; Small cars/4-7 D200; Jeep 4x4/8-14 passenger D250; LCV/minibus D400; Bus and Truck D1000; and Trucks with trailer D1800. However, such a tariff is yet to be implemented.
According to the GTU, the tariffs that were agreed on were never implemented by the government and is one of the reasons for the sit-down strike. The union therefore called on the government to fulfil their promises in order to avoid confrontation.
"See the agreement we had with the government through the Ministry of Transport including the Ministry of Finance and relevant stakeholders during our engagement between the Transport Union and the government, on the 31st of May 2022. This was the Senegambia bridge tariff approved by the Gambia government and a letter was sent to us. This has never been implemented and since then, we are raising concerns about the approved tariff to be implemented," the Union stated.
Meanwhile, Essa Drammeh, the director of Transport at the Ministry of Transport, Works and Infrastructure, while reacting to this, explained that the circulating letter let the Accountant General, who manages the toll plaza at the Bridge use the new tariff that was agreed between them.
“The accountant general has a challenge in implementing that tariff. So they cannot say we don’t honour the agreement because we convened our approval to the Accountant General for approval.”
“There was no timeline for the implementation of the agreement and the Accountant General cannot be blamed as well,” Mr. Drammeh said.
“The most important thing is that we agreed to use a particular tariff,” he said, adding that GTU's reaction to the agreement is misleading while stating that the letter even vindicates the Ministry of Transport.
Drammeh confirmed that they are responsible for tariffs but another institution is also responsible for revenue. He added that if that institution feels that the tariff has a negative effect on the revenue, they can also have their reservation.
“The best thing is for the two institutions to sit together and agree on terms. Agreeing with the GTU doesn’t mean that the tariff has to be automatically used because we will have to look into the impact.” |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11634 Posts |
Posted - 15 Sep 2022 : 21:17:46
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Strike Called Off After Govt, Transport Union Reached Common Ground
Press Release
This is to inform the public that the entire executive and membership of the General Transport Union has now called off the industrial action embarked upon by the Union on 12th September 2022.
This decision has been reached upon intervention by various institutions and individuals; The Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Supreme Islamic Council, National Human Rights Commission,
CSOs under the leadership of The Chairman, TANGO, The President of the Gambia Press Union, Peace Ambassadors of The Gambia,
Individual Well-wishers of the Union in and outside the country.
Our decision is prompted by the concerns brought forward by these key stakeholders, the fact that the strike action continues to adversely impact the lives and livelihoods of the public, particularly our precious customers, and because the transport sector plays a significant role in the socio-economic development of the country.
Today, on the 15th of September 2022 we were able to reach a common ground with the government of The Gambia through the Ministry of Transport Works and Infrastructure. A communiqué has been signed to show the commitment of all parties to ensuring a win-win for all.
We would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere apology to our esteemed customers for the challenges they underwent over these past few days.
We would also like to take this opportunity to assure all drivers that their welfare is the priority of the Union.
Attached is a copy of the final Communiqué of our engagement with the Ministry of Transport Works and Infrastructure and Gambia chamber of commerce and industry.
Source: TFN |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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toubab1020
12306 Posts |
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toubab1020
12306 Posts |
Posted - 16 Sep 2022 : 18:14:10
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https://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/editorial/on-drivers-nationwide-strike
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#Editorial
On drivers nationwide strike!
Sep 14, 2022, 12:06 PM
Transport infrastructure is an integral component of the transport system of any country.
With increasing development of societies and a boom in transportation networks, the importance of this sector as a factor for economic and social development cannot be over emphasised.
In simple terms, transportation is crucial in any meaningful undertakings.
The General Transport Union last Monday commenced a nationwide sit-down strike, over what they say is fuelled by high price of fuel and toll fees at the Senegambia Bridge; too many police checkpoints and expensive mandatory fines on the roads as well as driver’s licence expiration.
It is disheartening to note that the attitude of some drivers on the highways leaves much to be desired. Some commuters are forced to pay multiple fares for the same routes, something that always sparks misunderstanding between drivers and commuters in some instances.
What is not right should not be allowed to prevail amid the hard realities in the country.
The Gambia, just like many developing countries, is facing difficult times amid the Russia-Ukraine conflicts and surge of fuel prices at the global market.
The General Transport Union must reason genuinely and contribute towards the development of the nation. Generally, the constant strike by the general transport union members is not telling well about the union. The high cost of pump fuel is a general cross cutting issue.
The complaint regarding the crossing fee at the Senegambia Bridge is just a smear campaign out of sheer greed. The Ministry in a statement indicates that the government has not increased the tariff, but rather maintained the same tariff since its inauguration in 2019.
Therefore, the move by the union is geared towards exploiting the masses to their own advantage.
We therefore commend the Transport Ministry for its firm stance and measures put in place to safeguard the populace.
Similarly, we salute The Gambia Transport Service Company (GTSC) for deploying its fleet of buses across the Greater Banjul Areas and parts of West Coast Region.
The deployment of this new fleet of buses is not only in line with the government’s Transport Policy, but also eases difficulties commuters face daily.
As much as we want to ensure a smooth transport network, the welfare of the masses should be put into consideration.
We all know the monthly earnings of average Gambians. This in fact has forced the Ministry to pilot the route 'licensing model' following numerous complaints by commuters and in eradicating multiple charging on the same route.
Let this remind members of the Union that we all have a stake to contribute positively towards building a nation we can all be proud of. No one will come from outside to develop this country for us.
Together we can make this country a beacon of hope among nations.
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"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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© 2005-2024 Nijii |
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Sit down strike: THE GAMBIA TRANSPORT UNION
WE now live in a different world than existed in past times. 