By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT
The President of the Gambia’s Transport Union, Mr Omar Ceesay has called for drivers to go “on a nationwide sit-down strike on the 13 September 2021” if their demands are not meet.
The Union says it has been engaging all stakeholders including the President, the National Assembly, Ministry of Trade and many others after a nationwide tour to engage drivers across the country and collate their concerns.
Below is a video link to the press conference and a press release from the Union including their demands.
Statement from the Gambia Transport Union
“Early this year the union conduct a nationwide tour to meet with its members and stakeholders this activity was indeed an interactive one and out of which many requests and recommendations were conceived by sectors involve in day to day transport activity the requests were so important and so demanding that the union prepared a report which was sent to the office of the President and all necessary stakeholders.
After submission of our report, we held several consultations with various relevant institutions regarding the subject matters however we are yet to see any positive action to that effect. It is important to note that the problems the union and transport service are facing cannot wait any long, therefore our demand are as follows;
- allocation of garage access the country
- approval of proposed national transport tariff
- reduction of SeneGambia bridge toll fee
- Harmonize Afrique Passage Gambia LMD with Senegal
- to introduce a queueing system for transit good at the port of Banjul
- ask Senegalese authority to relieve the restriction on our passenger vehicles at the Borders
The Union is hereby notifying your able office that we have agreed as a union and all our counterparts that if no action is done to address the following demands we are going on a nationwide sit-down strike from the 13th September 2021 we anticipate a quick response to this demands and our doors are open for any necessary discussion and way forward thank you.
President
Omar Ceesay”