The President of the Motor Drivers and Transport Workers Union, Alpha Bah has appealed to MPs to reduce the toll gate fees.
The fees, he said, should be reduced for group 5 category: trucks be reduced from Le700 to Le300. He pleaded that trucks coming from neighbouring Guinea should pay Le500.
He made the statement when members of the parliamentary Oversight Committee on Works and Public Assets, engaged members of the transport sector including drivers’ Union and Civil Society organizations to discuss the proposed increment on the toll gate fees earlier announced by the Chinese construction company, China Railway Seventh Group (CRSG).
“We are asking for vehicles carrying essential goods to be at Le 300 and trailers coming from Guinea to be reduce to Le 500 ” says Mr. Bah.
He said he was invited at State House and advised to forget about the toll road issue. He pointed out that if the price is maintained it would definitely have bad impact on the people.
Mr. Bah noted that after the construction of the road, they observed that vehicles are moving faster from Freetown to Makeni and we began to make more money,” he said.
He pointed out that the amount proposed to pay for group five is too much for them because the vehicles coming from the provinces carry along with essential goods needed by residents in the entire Western Area.
“We are appealing that they separate us from the trailers so that our people will not suffer too much,” he emphasized.
For his part, Edmond Abu of Native Consortium emphasized that blocking the alternative routes is a national security threat, and prevailed on MPs to ensure the Company removes the blockages.
“Our organization including two hundred CSOs and citizens are against the increment. We are also calling for an independent investigation into the toll road issues including finances collected,” Edmond Abu said.
Several other speakers made their contributions.
In his response, the Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Bashiru Silikie said “We have a divergence view, but we must come to an agreement.
” He said the Committee has listened to their concerns and recommendations and promised to look at them.
He said anything that torches the people it torches Members of Parliament and so they are seriously looking into the issue and make their recommendations.