(JollofNews) – Police in the Gambia have filed criminal charges against a group of private taxi drivers who were detained for staging a peaceful protest against the reduction of fares in the country.
Sixty taxi drivers were arrested, according to a spokesman of the Gambia’s Police Force, Foday Conta.
He said a large majority of the drivers detained did not hold valid driving licences.
“Forty seven of them were arraigned before the court and the remaining were handed over to the child welfare unit because they are below the age of 18,” Conta told JollofNews in an exclusive interview.
Dissensions erupted within commercial drivers after the Gambia government’s decision to reduce transport fares has entered into effect on August 21st, 2017. Some drivers protested against the fare reduction during which they blocked the road in various areas, bring traffic to a standstill.
Despite protest by some drivers, the government has insisted that new fixed fares will remain in force.
“The government is committed in ensuring that the benefits of the current pump price reductions fully trickle down to the general public,” Gambia Transport Ministry said.
The Secretary General of Gambia National Trade Union Congress (GNTUC) Ebrima Garba Cham, who spoke to JollofNews, condemned the protest but expressed concerns over the fate of drivers in police custody.
He said the reduction was a result of an agreement endorsed by all stakeholders during a recent roundtable discussion.
“There are procedures to follow before taking to the streets,” he said.
The GNTUC boss acknowledged that the measure taken by authorities has left a cloud hanging over some routes, and urged drivers to continue consultations on the issue.
Massanneh Sawaneh, head of the drivers at Westfield Junction in Serrekunda (some 7 km away from Banjul), said the transport fare reduction is justified.
“Over these past months, the pump price was reduced twice by the authorities,” he added.
However, one taxi driver around Kotu who preferred anonymity, decried the government’s decision to ‘impose’ a reduction of the tariffs.
“Gambian roads are not good and our vehicles are always having breakdowns. This is affecting our daily revenue,” he said.
The Yellow taxi versus the Green taxi debate is a historical one. I recall ordering a yellow taxi from the Atlantic Hotel, whereby the green taxi drivers amassed in the hotel in protest. Yellow taxi’s are cheaper and open to negotiation. Green taxi drivers were stoic. These issues have been long overdue for moderation. Reduction in fares will go some way to reducing inflation and enable hard pressed travellers affordable movement which reinforces commerce. Under age drivers and those without licenses is a confirmation that the government needs to introduce a robust transport policy. To impose a limited policy and deny the drivers the right of expression is a recipe for conflict. If the government think it can impose its authority rather than engage in conflict resolution, and public notice of impending change, is to say the least very amateurish. With all due respect to amateurs.
What had happened to the license office’s capability that so many under ages are driving commercial vehicles? Oh, but then though I am an underage, I can give the officer a 100d to clear my way for the day. Yeah, good idea because that’s the way it got to be in the Gambia…
Why shouldn’t we start opening driving schools now? Driving instructors confirmed and accredited by a well qualified traffic police, can be employed by those entities with a capacity to open driving schools. Or maybe it’s just enough if I learn in the backyards how to get an automobile moving, then next I can go for a one day trial at the traffic police mini- circuit at Kanifing and pay 1000d to the traffic police examiner and go home glorious with my license A B C and ……… Or, did I miss home so much?
The drivers must be let their full rights to protest against the fare reductions or what ever manifest, especially for the fact that a good part of taxi drivers’ earning goes to traffic police in bribes. Most of the deplorable conditions of our infrastructure, private and public services, stems from corruption. Really a good gesture by the government to reduce fares that the population literally without incomes find hard to afford, but what are they doing about the the condition of the roads and streets in the urban areas much less our rural areas? When are we going to make muddy sandy and stony ways of neighbourhoods a history? The roads are so red that it is almost impossible even for Barrow himself to maintain that natural white of his flowing gowns. I wish he lays them to rest. We need vehicles very much in our life’s nowadays but they just won’t last a few months running in such off road conditions. Government must work towards a total win for commuters and travellers as well as for the service providers.
Very true Jack and I like your humour,,,lol
I recall a Police sergeant used to follow me everywhere and he occasionally would dream up all sorts of misdemeanors, which he threatened to expose. They were untrue of course. Until one day I got so pissed off, I sat him down and said, what’s your game here ? He said his children had no shoes. He also asked me if I wanted to sleep with his wife. {laugh} I shoved 20 quid in his hand and warned him forcefully. I never saw him again. Its an industry in Gambia, which Jack has so eloquently exposed.It starts from the bottom and went all the way to the top. I tend to see no harm in it. Its starts when you enter the airport. £2 pounds gets you through to the front at immigration control and £2 Pounds gets you through customs. I once brought £500 worth of mobile phones with me and had the purchase invoice, expecting to pay the 10% customs duty. The Manager appeared from nowhere and took me into his office. He wanted 2 mobile phones to get me through the side door and into the car park, where he met me for his bounty. I recall I was protesting quite loudly and demanded to pay the duty. { I thought it could be a trap} I was ushered quite forcefully to the car park. After a while I became used to it and always kept a few pound coins in my pocket. How you change social attitudes is beyond me. It is an industry which many rely on to survive.
Mike, its annoying exposing all these awful realities about our country though I would exceedingly lol to anyone’s claim that a Gambian man would offer another man the intimacy of his married wife. But then, as usual, Mike is the chef when it comes to dishing out humor.
Nonetheless, corruption is a most horrible practice that backpedals the tiny Gambia from progressive development. It needs to be curbed!
Salaries need to improve, even if I may not know how for the fact that I am not an economist. All I know is, a police officer, a teacher, or any other employee, could be married to two unemployed wives each with four kids and being paid a salary of D2500. A bag of rice is D750 approx! ‘Fish money’, didn’t come yet, neither sugar, school fees, shoes, books and school lunch for eight kids nor clothing and other needs for two wives. Come on, this is a chaos. Government and the people have a lot to overcome. It no joke! Its high time!
So this is Mike’s style of humor? Reporting that a Gambian police officer asked him (Mike) to sleep with his (the police man’s) wife. This is risky humor obviously fraught with danger and can sour this bantaba.
Mike must have been aware of the risk in such a humor before dishing it out! If ever it turn to be a danger, Mike has the responsibility to redress this situation for those who felt offended by it.
If the truth finds humour, then that is only a megre bonus. If the truth finds embarrassment>>> then with humility I apologize.
I was innocent of such social curses in the early days of my 21 visits to Gambia. Of course I came with many investors, who were set upon for small financial gain from a herd of imposters. They claimed to be close to Jammeh with access. They came with all kinds of promises. After a while, I chased them away but incurred enemies instead of helpers. Sometimes the night before I departed for Gambia I was getting strange and anonymous phone calls saying ” You will not leave Banjul Airport alive.”In the end, the APRC let me through the VIP lounge and gave me a driver and escort. To date I have recieved 29 death threats all logged with the British Police. They did not win>> I rose to the challenge and did what I set out to do. Yes I was scared>>> but I do not fear of fear. What God chooses is fine by me. After 17 years I am still here wishing Gambian’s only the best.
AS Jack has said>> to change this corrupt culture, would be almost impossible. But I am only confirming from a visitors experience what Gambian’s acknowledge.
I have been coming to the Gambia for over 20years
The bigger problem to me in the Gambia is the the fear if juju, marabou and witchcradt.
If you here someone is going to cassamae they are going to marabou. Marabou don’t create but destroy
Every body is in fear of marabous.
How can a country develop if the people live in fear of juju.
For example
They will go to a marabou to get a white woman or man. Once they have them they will go to marabou to keep them or get what they have
This blind belief in juju in Gambia is preventing the people from progressing
I personal believe that marabou should be outlawed or controlled. There are many fake marabou its not doing anything the country. Did it help the former President. No