AA/Alioune Ndiaye
Members of the Union of Road Carriers of Senegal began an indefinite strike on Wednesday to protest once morest government measures in the road sector.
During an interministerial council held on January 9 following the Sikilo accident in Kaffrine (center) which caused 42 deaths, the government announced 22 measures to deal with accidents that have become recurrent on the roads.
The entry into force of the strike order has somewhat disrupted public transport, which is mainly owned by private individuals.
The highly coveted Ndiaga Ndiaye coaches in urban transport in Dakar were rare in some places in the capital.
“I had to make up my mind to take a Tata bus to reach Pikine (one of the 5 departments of Dakar). Not the shadow of a Ndiaga Ndiaye”, explained to Anadolu Lamine Fall, a regular of this type of vehicle whose the advantage is to be able to convey luggage in addition to passengers.
Organizations such as the unitary framework of transport unions in Senegal ( Custrs ) did not follow the call to strike.
“Our organization has decided not to participate in this strike because the context is not conducive. Last Sunday another road accident killed 22 people so we are in mourning and must think of the bereaved families”, declared to Anadolu Fallou Samb, administrative secretary of Custrs.
“We have taken note of the measures taken by the government. They do not please us, but the most important thing is to go to the negotiating table instead of engaging in a standoff with the State”, insisted Samb, noting “minimal impacts” from the ongoing strike.
For his part, Gora Khouma, president of the Truckers’ Union, affirmed that the strike will continue until the lifting of some of the measures which are currently unworkable.
“We had reservations regarding the effective applicability of these measures,” he noted.
“A one-year deadline has been given for the luggage racks, which will definitely have to be removed. There is also the question of importing tires and the technical visit for vehicles. We are waiting for the government to open serious consultations “, explained Khouma.
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