By Aji Fatou Jammeh
Following the commencement of the implementation of the new transport tariff, Gambia Daily has been sounding the reviews of scores of commuters, who are bearing the brunt of the adjustment.
The commuters interviewed have largely shared their frustration over the matter. The Ministry of Transport, Works and Infrastructure on the other hand justified its agreement with the General Transport Union to increase the fares with the introduction of a route licensing scheme, which it said is meant to prevent commercial drivers from doubling or even tripling fares.
Alieu Njie, a commuter, said some of the commuters from the vehicle he had just alighted were quarreling over the three Dalasi coins.
“So I suggest that they should have just rounded the figure to make life easy for us,’’ he said.
For Haddy Sarr, another commuter, the authorities need to look for another option to regulate the issue than increasing fares. She said she has seen no reason why they should increase the transport fares.
“They did not increase our salaries or wages; this is just an added difficulty for us,’’ she lamented.
Ebou Njie, a van driver said he is not charging more than D10 because things are hard in the country. “Some people find it difficult to even pay the D10 talk less of adding the coins. Government has to help us reduce the cost of fuel to make life easy for the drivers. The commuters need us and we also need them. One cannot live without the other,’’ Njie opined.
He urged the government to reconsider their decision, saying is not good to both the commuters and the drivers. He rather suggest the fuel price looked into for possible reduction.
Adama Jaw, another commuter who lives in Brikama and goes to work to Fajara shared the same view, noting that is an added burden.
Meanwhile, government says the move is a result of their consultations with the Transport Union and in fulfillment of their side of the commitment with the hope that the drivers would comply with the route licensing scheme to avoid inflation of fares by drivers.
