The President of the Sierra Leone Motor Drivers Union, Alpha Amadu Bah, said, “The country is operating a free market economy so passengers should negotiate transport fares with drivers upon entering vehicles.”
Drivers held a sit down strike of all vehicles plying the Bombay Street to Waterloo route using the Toll Gate at Hastings.
According to Bah, the strike action was as a result of price increases, which the drivers were demanding. Considering the distance and amount paid at the Toll Gates, drivers have increased their prices.
According to the Toll Road Project Manager at the Youth Ministry, Mohamed Sahid Koroma, no driver has the power to increase transportation fare, explaining that it was clearly stated in the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the SLMDU and the Project Coordinators.
He furthered that no driver should pay or give any money in a form of bookings to any police officer or traffic warden from Wellington to Masiaka, disclosing that discussions are on going with the police on the issue and that they have removed the check point at Mile 38.
According to some drivers plying the Waterloo routes using the Hastings Toll Gate, their major concern is related to police officers still demanding monies (bookings). The drivers say the extra payments is an added burden.
The sit down protest by the drivers created inconveniences to passengers who found it very difficult to go about their normal businesses on Monday 21 August.
The drivers admitted increasing transport fare without the approval of the appropriate authorities, claiming that some passengers are willing and ready to pay whiles others are reluctant to pay.
According to Mabinty Sesay, a local trader who deals local produce at Dove Cutt, “The prices of food at Waterloo has increased, which led to drop in sales. The drivers are now demanding payment for smaller bags, which was not the case before the start of the Toll Road system.”
AMK/24/8/17
Friday August 25, 2017.
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