As Deal Agreed Between Union, Authorities
A number of commuters within the Better Banjul Space on Wednesday complained towards the rising enhance in transport fares and requested the authorities to step in and enhance the variety of buses within the nation.
The increment of fares comes within the wake of an settlement made between the Gambia Authorities and the Gambia Transport Union and different stakeholders, to extend transport fares as a result of a latest hike in international gasoline value because of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, as alluded to by the Ministry of Petroleum.
As Gambians battle for survival on this holy month of Ramadan when the value of some primary meals commodities has soared, they see the increment in transport fares as one other financial woe that may make their earnings and motion much more troublesome.
The involved commuters lamented the unemployment and deteriorating financial scenario on them and mentioned one other excessive enhance in transport fares would be the restrict of their hardship.
By the best way within the Gambia, statistics disclose that greater than half the inhabitants reside beneath the poverty line. And because the value of gasoline soars past D64, it’s inevitable for Authorities to barter with members of the Transport Union who’re most obliged to extend fares at no matter end result, in line with Omar Ceesay, president of the Transport Union.
This reporter had a vox pop with totally different commuters on the sixth day of April 2022, on their considerations on the brand new increment and lack of regulation within the transport business.
Nyima Sonko, a vendor who visits the Serekunda market each day, expressed her utter frustration with the deal between the Authorities and the Transport Union to extend fares, saying drivers have already been overcharging them on fares beginning with the smallest quantity of D10, to D20, D35, D50, D75 and D100 dalasi, relying on the vacation spot of the commuter. She mentioned
typically fares can rise as much as fifty or 100 dalasi relying on the supply of automobiles as of now, and Authorities isn’t doing something to deal with this; the unreasonable enhance in fares by drivers impacts all petty merchants like her as a result of they need to spend most of their revenue on transportation.
“There isn’t a regulation inside the garages. Drivers want to go wherever they need and over-charge no matter quantity they need,” she lamented. Sonko additional urges the Authorities to take measures to make sure that drivers don’t cost additional charges since they’ve each agreed on a deal to extend fares.
Penda Cham, a resident of Latrikunda Sabiji and petty commerce on the Serekunda market, mentioned the brand new fares will solely have an effect on the poor lots tougher.
“We now have sufficient hassle with the increment of primary commodities. So including an additional quantity on transport fares will solely enhance the distress, hardship and struggling of the folks,” she mentioned.
Mary Mendy, a scholar of St’ Peter Technical Junior and Senior College mentioned she pays D40 each day to achieve her faculty. She mentioned drivers intentionally overcharge passengers, and that fares to Lamin have virtually doubled though the value of gasoline was not elevated, and at a time when Authorities muted over this.
“I feel, Authorities ought to regulate the transport business first, earlier than considering of constructing a cope with drivers to extend fares as a result of transport fares have already been elevated since,” she mentioned.
Ebrima Darboe mentioned this: “I’ve to pay D75 to get to Brikama each time I shut from work as a result of there’ll shortage of automobiles and the visitors can also be jammed more often than not. So, the drivers enhance the fares though the gasoline value wasn’t elevated. Commuters and drivers are all Gambians, so it doesn’t need to be a deal that ought to serve the curiosity of drivers alone. All I can say is that the plight of poor Gambians ought to be thought of by these representing us, as a result of we put them the place they’re.”
Others categorical related reactions relating to the deal struck between Authorities and drivers to extend transport fares.
In the same growth, Authorities mentioned it would introduce a route licensing scheme to ease the transportation of individuals and items within the Better Banjul Space and the West Coast Area.