Dear editor,
I have never asked any civil servant in the country to stand up to Jammeh because I knew the reckless tyrant and megalomaniac that he was. But if you do not have the spine to refuse his illegality and unlawful directives, should you not have courted, lobbied and fought for his acknowledgement, recognition and subsequently, his appointment.
We have been seeing a singular line of defense of ‘I could not have said ‘No!’ to Jammeh’ in the Commission, a hint that even those that tortured and murdered for him are going to use the same. Sabally, Isatou Auber, Njogu Bah, Mr Sallah, bank heads, etc., all are culpable and complicit in Jammeh’s mess, and the authorities cannot have these kind of people anywhere near decision making position. Having them any close to the Presidency or positions of influence is having persons of questionable character with high propensity of plausible deniability as a defense in their awful actions.
Get them away from Barrow and senior positions. If they can do with Jammeh, they will to any because it is a convenient excuse.
Pata Saidykhan
USA
Reduction of domestic transport fares
Dear editor,
Please allow me space to harp on the above that is the current issue in the country. As alluded to by other stakeholders, the government through its appropriate arm of the ministry of transport, works and infrastructure is resolved to reduce domestic transport fares with effect from Monday 21st August, 2017. This is commendable and a welcomed initiative in response to fuel price reduction. On the home front, the idea is indeed laudable and it commensurate with the current economic state of the country.
We look forward with optimism to the cooperation and smooth implementation of the new tariff for transportation. It is hoped that positive reactions will come from commercial drivers who may otherwise misconstrue this to be at their disadvantage. I want to encourage them to graduate from their individual interests to the broader interest and welfare of the general public. With the advent of the new proposed system, commuters should not be subjected to paying more than fare on one journey (e.g. from Sukuta to Tipper garage, Tipper garage to west field and west field to Banjul). The sum total of all these separate fares is unacceptable and unfair to the average public servant. Is counter-productive and not sustainable in the drive towards the development objectives of the country to say the least.
The opposition of the Gambia transport, Agriculture, food and industrial workers union to the proposed reduction of transport fares is baffling. There is wisdom in the words of late John F. Kennedy of America: “It is not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country”. The transport union cannot afford to be detractors in government’s drive towards national development by improving the lives of average Gambians. I personally view their position as upsetting in this crusade.
Meanwhile, while the new tariff is being prepared for introduction by government, I would like to seize this opportunity to express appreciation to the new administration through the minister of transport, works and infrastructure for the timely foresight in the service of Gambian people. However, looking on the other side of the coin as it were, commuters in the country are reassured of government’s concern for general welfare of citizens and the move is welcome across board.
The only area of concern that has the potential to disrupt the new tariff issue is the lack of a “CENTRAL CARPARK” within greater Banjul area. The buffer zone at Latrikunda Sabiji is an appropriate site that can accommodate all commercial vehicles plying between Banjul and the Kombos. The idea was proposed to the previous government but to no avail. It is hoped that if this critical mechanism is put in place, the question of commuters paying triple transport fares to get to Banjul and other destinations will be a thing of the past.
Ebou C Faal,
Latria/Sere Kunda
