After
years of uninterrupted service in the country’s transportation sector, The
Gambia Transport Service Company (GTSC) Sunday commissioned 20 new Ashok
Leyland buses at a ceremony held its Kanifing Depot.
Established
in 2013 with a fleet of 50 buses, GTSC today remains one of the largest
carriers in the country’s transportation sector with well-organised offices and
support depots in Kanifing, Brikama, Essau, Soma, Basse, and Farafenni.
At
the commissioning ceremony, Seedy Kanyi, general manager of GTSC, described the
commissioning of the new fleet of buses as timely, considering the fact that
its fleets have been facing challenges in recent times.
“Since
that has happened we’ve been facing increasing demand and we were under
pressure to respond to that high demand from our esteemed customers. Thank God
we are here today commissioning 20 new buses with very high hope that it would
provide an answer to that call from our passengers both within and outside The
Gambia,” he said.
To
this end, he extends special thanks to the board of directors of GTSC and its
parent company- Social Security and Housing Finance Corporation (SSHFC) for
their unflinching support since inception seven years ago.
“We
also wish to register our unreserved appreciation to the government of The
Gambia and all the ministries for their immense support to GTSC since day one,”
he added.
Kanyi
lauded the unique care and guidance of its parent company- SSHFC over the
years, saying the bus company started with 50 buses provided by SSHFC as an
investment to revive the country’s public transport sector.
After
two years of operation service, Kanyi explained, GTSC added five buses to its
fleet o augment the number.
“In
2016, we added 15 new buses through the support of our parent company. And here
we are today, after the three years, to commission our fourth generation of
buses totaling 25 but on the ground we have 20 buses made possible through the
support of our parent company,” he stated.
GTSC MD also acknowledged the support of their
esteemed customers, communities and even the suppliers of the buses for the
smooth running of their services.
For
his part, Mohammadou Manjang, the board chair of GTSC, who doubles as the
managing director of SSHFC, extended on behalf of the board of directors,
special thanks to the staff of GTSC, recalling the relations between SSHFC and
GTSC, which he said, dates back to 2013 when they first invested in 50 buses to
restart the then liquidated Gambia Public Transport Corporation.
“Our
investment in the transport then and over the years has helped improve the
quality of lives for millions of people, who previously were excluded from the
economy. I think one thing that is evident is with the revival of the bus
service, every depot that you go right through the country, is bustling with an
economic activity. And it is quite evident when the buses are not in
operations, the economic activities in a lot of areas come to a standstill” he
added.
To
this end, Manjang acknowledged that their involvement is not only providing
transport to the general populace, but is also contributing significantly to
the country’s economy.
Raymond
Ceesay, deputy general manager of GTSC, hailed their parent company for the
move, which he said, is timely and worthy. He acknowledged that the support
from their parent company is also supporting 400 staff of the company, whose
families surely depend on them.
The
commissioning of the new fleet wrapped up with a maiden trip to Old Yundum.
