By: Foday Manneh
The Gambia Transport Union (GPU) has called off its nationwide sit-down strike following the intervention of The Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI).
The dialogue was facilitated with the government on mutual agreements with the transport union after commercial drivers embarked on a nationwide sit-down strike. They are calling for a reduction of the high pump price of fuel and the high toll fee at the Senegambia bridge, among other issues.
However, as the strike continues to affect daily activities across the country, and the GCCI facilitated the dialogue between the Ministry of Transport, Works, and Infrastructure and The Gambia Transport Union to resolve the matter.
The negotiation was successful as the transport union immediately called off the strike based on their agreements with the government.
Part of the agreement is for the Ministry of works and transport to immediately work with the government stakeholders to expedite the ongoing review process of the existing tariff of the Senegambia bridge.
The Ministry to also set up a committee comprising of all relevant stakeholders to look into the demands of the Union, to reduce route licensing scheme as part of efforts to avoid multiple charging of passengers while at the same time agree on a nationally pegged price increment to cater for the recent increase in fuel prices.
While the strike has now been called off, TAT has earlier talked to an economist, Momodou Sabally, who described the three-day protest as disastrous to the country’s economy.
