Mustapha
Jobe, acting President of The Gambia Transport, Food and Agricultural
Industrial Workers Union (GTFAIW), has expressed the need for the authorities
to regard them as a recognized organization of workers, drivers, and as genuine
partners in the development of the Gambian transport sector.
He
called on the Government, particularly the Inspector General of Police (IGP),
to seek to strengthening a sustainable partnership to promote and improve the
fragile nature of the transport sector, and workers unions in general.
Speaking
to The Point in an interview, Mr Jobe stated that they had a meeting with the
Minister of Interior who instructed them to work with the IGP- Ousman Sonko,
who in turn instructed his deputy to work with them to re-open certain sectors
of transport that were suspended for almost a year.
He
added that following that development, some of their members were invited at
the BCC for meeting and they developed recommendations, which advocated the
formation of a union body that is recognized by the State, with a view to
controlling the day-to-day activities of the association.
Mr
Jobe believes that it is better to strengthen the existing unions, instead of
coming up with new body. He says there has been union of drivers and workers
that has been suppressed for over decade.
“We
have been recognized nationally, regionally, and internationally. We worked
with the ILO,” he said.
He
added that they have been collaborating with transport unions in the sub-region
and regional bodies to implement ECOWAS Protocols.
He
said: “What the union needs is strong partnership with Government and
parastatals and collaboration with the police to improve and strengthen the
union for the development of the sector.”
He
concluded by calling on the IGP to look into strengthening collaboration with
the union and to work together for the common good.
