Back and Next - Back and NextTransport union condemns illegal charges
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Following a display of heightened discontent by passengers against alleged unfair (double) charges by commercial vehicle owners, The Gambia National Transport Control Union (GNTCU), the umbrella body of all commercial vehicle drivers in the country, has condemned the act as "dubious," issuing a strongly worded warning that any "unscrupulous" driver caught in the act will face the full force of the law.
This development came following a publication on the Daily Observer, amplifying an outcry by commuters between Westfield and Bakau.
In an exclusive interview with this reporter, at the Union’s offices in Banjul, on Tuesday, Mr Sheriff Dibba, secretary general of GNTCU, vowed that they will not in anyway entertain such malpractices in the transportation industry as these contradict the new tariff agreement between them and other stakeholders.
In an attempt to make clarifications, Dibba echoed an earlier point put up that there is no car park at Sabena Junction. He said that all drivers plying that route, from Westfield, are obliged to go straight to the Bakau Car Park for disembarkation.
"The union is set to stop the menace as soon as possible. We have discussed the issue among ourselves and we have concluded that we will send our team in collaboration with the police to the site. If any driver is caught in such acts, we will deal with them accordingly," Dibba reiterated, stressing that in as much as his union stands to promote the well-being of drivers, commuters must not be exploited.
The GNTCU secretary general called for attitudinal change among taxi drivers, calling on them to be patriotic and true to the needs of their country. He emphasised the fact that drivers must be responsible to ensure that they were inline with the union’s objective of ensuring standard best practices of transport delivery services.
Mr Dibba disclosed that his union has also received similar complaints from commuters between Westfield - Banjul, who, he said, have always reported that drivers plying the said route impose on them the charge of D8 - above the agreed charge of D6. He said that under the new transport tariff, Westfield - Banjul is supposed to be D6, and not D8, noting further that Banjul - Serrekunda is what costs D8. He then advised commuters to beware, and to report illegal cases to his union for appropriate legal measures.
While expressing his union’s resolve to ensure that commuters are not exploited, Mr Sheriff Dibba urged drivers to respect the transportation tariff agreement of the union.
This development came following a publication on the Daily Observer, amplifying an outcry by commuters between Westfield and Bakau.
In an exclusive interview with this reporter, at the Union’s offices in Banjul, on Tuesday, Mr Sheriff Dibba, secretary general of GNTCU, vowed that they will not in anyway entertain such malpractices in the transportation industry as these contradict the new tariff agreement between them and other stakeholders.
In an attempt to make clarifications, Dibba echoed an earlier point put up that there is no car park at Sabena Junction. He said that all drivers plying that route, from Westfield, are obliged to go straight to the Bakau Car Park for disembarkation.
"The union is set to stop the menace as soon as possible. We have discussed the issue among ourselves and we have concluded that we will send our team in collaboration with the police to the site. If any driver is caught in such acts, we will deal with them accordingly," Dibba reiterated, stressing that in as much as his union stands to promote the well-being of drivers, commuters must not be exploited.
The GNTCU secretary general called for attitudinal change among taxi drivers, calling on them to be patriotic and true to the needs of their country. He emphasised the fact that drivers must be responsible to ensure that they were inline with the union’s objective of ensuring standard best practices of transport delivery services.
Mr Dibba disclosed that his union has also received similar complaints from commuters between Westfield - Banjul, who, he said, have always reported that drivers plying the said route impose on them the charge of D8 - above the agreed charge of D6. He said that under the new transport tariff, Westfield - Banjul is supposed to be D6, and not D8, noting further that Banjul - Serrekunda is what costs D8. He then advised commuters to beware, and to report illegal cases to his union for appropriate legal measures.
While expressing his union’s resolve to ensure that commuters are not exploited, Mr Sheriff Dibba urged drivers to respect the transportation tariff agreement of the union.
Author: by Hatab Fadera
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