By: Isatou Sarr
Omar Ceesay, newly elected President of Gambia Transport Union (GTU) has vowed to do all it takes to improve the working conditions of Gambian drivers, apprentices, and garage managers during his 5years tenure.
He made this disclosure in an exclusive interview with The Voice newspaper, where he said reducing the number of police checkpoints, increasing the number of garages, formalising the employability of drivers as well as strengthening regional transportation will be some of the challenges that the union hopes to address.
“Am very happy, emotional,l and grateful for the gesture accorded to me for being elected by members of the transport union to preside over their affairs for the next five years. This is a great honour to me and my family even though I was expecting to win but to go unopposed has not been on my mind and I promise to serve all members of the union without fear or favour, ill will or affection,” Omar Ceesay, disclosed in the exclusive interview.
He added: “During the next five years I and my executive will endeavour to improve the working conditions of the drivers to ensure that they have proper employment documents, social security, and better payments for their services. We will also ensure that more garages are built, police checkpoints are reduced and as well strengthen our existing relationship with our sister unions in the subregion in the bit to reducing challenges encountered by drivers whose works go beyond our borders.”
According to him, the newly elected executives will continue to improve the operations of garages across the country by providing uniforms and badges for all garage workers and attendants, noting that these steps will address some of the troubles commuters encounter in garages in terms of offering and stealings cases thus making work easy for garage managers and the union as a whole.
GTU President observes that if drivers are well paid in a conducive working environment most of the cases of accidents will be minimized, arguing that most drivers in the country lack secured jobs, low salaries, and difficult working conditions that take a great toll on the performance of their work.
He also outlined plans to establish excellent working relationships with the Government and other stakeholders with the view to addressing the numerous challenges confronting Gambian drivers, adding that the union will also endeavor to work with the government to loosen some of the barriers that posed challenges to drivers especially those whose work extends beyond the Gambian borders.
Ceesay also disclosed that his past executive has secured thirteen garages through the genuine intervention of the Ministry of Lands and Ministry of Trade, adding that efforts are on course to secure seven more garages across the country that they hope to develop to standard garages that will allow the free flow of commuters, goods, and services within the country and beyond.
He called on all transport owners, vehicle drivers, and apprentices to register and work with the Gambia Transport Union for the interest of all and sundry, promising that GTU will not relent in its quest to improve the working conditions of drivers as well to ensure that drivers have work security, good pay, and conducive working environment.
He commended Gambian President Adama Barrow and, the Ministry of Transport, Works and Local Government for all the support they have been rendering to the union.
