The
Gambia government is in the process of putting in place a legal framework for
the smooth operation of the transport sector, a press release from Trade
ministry has stated.
In
the interim, the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment,
the Ministry of Works, Transport and Infrastructure, the Ministry of the
Interior, Office of the Inspector General of Police, Banjul City Council and
the Gambia Ports Authority have come up with the following measures which “must
be adhered to until further notice”:
- investment in
the transport sector should be opened to all irrespective of nationality
and that there should not be any discrimination,
- all trucks
involved in the commercial transportation of goods within The Gambia
should join the queue,
- foreign vehicle
should not be involved in the commercial transport of goods within The
Gambia and as such they would not be subjected to the queuing system
established,
- a retailer with
private trucks for the purpose of transporting his or her own goods should
be allowed to leave the queue at anytime for only one pick up,
- all the rest of
the vehicles should join the queue,
- all vehicles
engaged in the commercial transportation of goods from the Greater Banjul
Area should be parked at Bond Road/Abuko being the designated parking
areas when they are not due for loading, to reduce congestion in Banjul
and to ensure transparency in the implementation of the queuing system.
According
to the release, the Trade ministry said it had been informed that there have been
interruptions of the vehicles transporting goods by some members of transport
unions.
“As
a result, the Ministry wishes to inform the general public that entry into the
road transport industry is free and any individual owning a roadworthy vehicle
with all the necessary licenses and permits can operate transport services for
goods and passengers along any route,” the release said, adding that all
stakeholders ought to comply with the directive therein otherwise the due
process of law will be applied.