By Precious D. Freeman
Commercial drivers are demanding the Ministry of Transport (MOT) to allow them increase the number of passengers in order for them to accept the newly stipulated prices of transportation fares given by the Ministry.
This request was made at the Ministry of Transport when some commercial drivers were seen with placards saying that they are not going to accept the rule that was given by MOT to reduce the transportation fares if the Ministry is not willing to reduce the gasoline price.
Speaking to one of the protesters, Anthony Paye, he said that the Ministry should have set up things by reducing the gasoline price before coming up with different transportation fares in the country.
“The Ministry is only concerned about the passengers paying less but, they are not disturbed about how well we make profit when the transportation fares are been reduced,” he sorrowfully said.
According to him, they will not abide by the new transportation fares if the price of gasoline is not reduced. At the same time he is calling on the Minister of Transport to see reasons by accepting their proposal which is to take four passengers behind a taxi and for Kekehs to continue with three passengers.
He believes that if they continue taking four passengers behind at least it will help them to achieve little profit and be able to sustain them and their family instead of the passengers benefitting alone.
Meanwhile, recently the Kekeh Drivers Association expressed their dissatisfaction over the new transportation fare from the Ministry of Transport (MOT).
In an interview recently with the spokesperson Jacob Sehkoor, he mentioned that the Kekeh riders have become modern slaves in Liberia.
According to him, the mandate that came from the government based on the reduction of transportation fare came to him unaware, which is so frustrating.
Explaining his ordeal, he mentioned that kekeh is been sold for US$3,200 in Liberia while in other countries the prices are less.
Mr. Sehkpor mentioned that as the Kekeh is been sold for that huge amount, when they decide to pay by installment to the owner they are usually charged twice the amount of what the owner bought it, which is USD$6,000.
” We are forced to report LD$3,000 every day to the owner and apart from that the gas price is up and the little tips we give to the police can’t really be easy,” he said.
He stated that the government should also find means of reducing the price of kekeh and gas in the country so that they can also benefit from their work.
Explaining other problems they are faced with he mentioned that government should allow them to continue with three passengers per trip, and to dissolve the existing of the Tricycle Union because they don’t have any stable office and does not seek their interest.