By Omar Bah
The director generals of the Gambia Transport Service Company, (GTSC) and Guinea Bissau Transport services have reiterated commitments to ensuring ‘continued smooth transportation’ between the two countries and the sub-region.
They made this commitment as they inked a Memorandum of Understanding, MOU Saturday, at the GTSC conference Hall in Kanifing.
Saying relations between the two institutions go as far back as in 2016, Habib Drammeh stated the MOU between the two agencies will not only strengthen relations, but will also ease mobility between the two ‘brotherly nations’ and the sub-region.
“The patronage of the service so far is a testimony to the fact that the transport difficulties have already been ease,” Mr Drammeh, also the director general, said.
“As we speak our buses are well patronage for both directions and for this we want to thank our customers from both countries for placing their trust on us,” he added.
For the Board Chairman GTSC Mohammad Manjang, historical relations between the two institutions and the two countries, significantly influence the signing of the MOU.
“This MOU inked today will also strengthen the bilateral relationships of the institutions. It also demonstrates yet again the fact that, the two institutions are motivated to ease travelling between the two countries and the sub-region,” he said.
The director general, Licensing Department of the Ministry of Transport of Guinea Bissau, Dr. Bamba, extolled the Gambia government on his government’s behalf.
According to him, the GTSC have put in lots of efforts to ensuring that their partnership becomes a reality, adding that “The Gambia and Bissau are the same people and they also share the same culture, which makes it very easy for the two institutions to work hand in glove.
“We are always ready to push such initiative because we know better that development cannot come in the absent of better transport service. Gambia can always count on Bissau when it comes to development partnership,” he assured.
It is expected that the MOU will enable GTSC to establish transport services between relevant destinations to and from Guinea Bissau and also within Guinea Bissau, outline service provision responsibilities of both parties, establish standards that GTSC should observe whilst operating in Guinea Bissau and as well highlight key areas that the licensing department will assist GTSC on their areas of needs.
