By Landing Colley
Commercial drivers in the country in particular in Banjul City, Greater Banjul Areas and West Coast Region yesterday embarks on a nationwide sit-down strike to call for end of the Covid-19 passenger restrictions as instructed by the government declared State of Public Emergency.
Also, the angry commercial drivers are equally on sit-down strike to show their unhappiness over inadequate car parks in the country.
Speaking to Khalifa Keita, official at the Serrekunda car park said they are on sit down strike because they don’t have enough garages and “and secondly drivers are still instructed to be carrying half of their normal passenger capacity.”
According to him, they really want the government to allow them to come back to the carrying of normal full capacity of passengers as per their vehicles
“If you see drivers collecting double fares from passengers is due to lacks of garage and rules that mandate them in term of where to stop of pick passengers,” he disclosed.
Adding his words is Amadou Jallow also a driver, he said drivers are hiking fares on traffic amid the coronavirus outbreak is attributed to inadequate car parks and since there is no enough garage it will be difficult to control the drivers.
He called on government to help create many recognisable car parks to address challenges facing them.
“We are not given our due as drivers even the police officers don’t respect us. The markets and ferries are full with people without no problem but we the drivers are not allow to carry the normal number of passengers and what we are earning is very small,” he said.
Meanwhile, Fatoumatta Balajo, a passenger explained her ordeal under the sit down strike embarks on by the commercial drivers.
She called on President Adama Barrow to engage drivers in order to come to a lasting solution to the ongoing nationwide strike organized by the commercial drivers.
She said “the fare is D10 and we still feel uncomfortable in the car, and then they should make it D8. It affects my business because tomorrow I would not be able to sell. My daily transaction is buying of mango and boil it for sale but now I would not sell tomorrow because now vehicle to bring them.”
Mafana Kah shared similar sentiments and wants the government to reach an agreement with them.