By: Nyima Sillah
Sherrifo Sonko, a member of the United Democratic Party has urged the Kanifing Municipal Council and the Brikama Area Council to provide mini-buses to ease the issue of transportation in The Gambia.
Speaking to The Voice exclusive, Sonko said: “I believe they should try to put to key investors who will have trust in them and give them buses. If Brikama Area Council is able to procure at least 15 buses, Kanifing Municipality also to procure 15 buses, these buses will be rotating all over the country so people will not be standing on the highways and drivers will not charge people double fares.” Added that all these things need to be regulated by the government.
“I belief KMC will soon start having Municipal buses, however, the government should be able to work with them to have the guarantee to provide these buses,” Sonko added.
He pointed out that the government should give the right subsidy to the local government that is guaranteed, as the government is there to serve good quality service to people. This is why Gambians are paying them to do the right job, he disclosed.
Citing Senegal as an example that “If you look at Senegal, from the 27th of June, they are selling petrol per liter at D78, and diesel at D58, so if Senegal is selling a liter of petrol for D58 why not the Gambia? Because the Gambia is selling at the same rate as D77, D78 and Senegal is also selling at the same rate, so what brought the differences in the prices of diesel?” he asked
“If we don’t regularize our procurement issues and the way we do procurement, the country will not move anywhere and will lose a lot of cash and everyone is going to be affected,” he argued.
He explained more that if they increase the price for diesel, they should know that the transport fares will also increase and that if it decreases, the fare should also decrease. Noted that “This is completely different in the Gambia. If the price goes down, transport fares never get down. We have to be like other parts of the world if fuel price goes up, fears go up if the price goes down, prices go down this is something I believe if the government is ready, they can eradicate it,” he said.
