Editor,

I wish to write and respond to the above captioned letter written by one Lamin LK Sanneh of UTG, as published on your 10 January2008 edition.

While the tone of Mr Sanneh’s letter suggested a genuine concern shared by all patriotic Gambians, he left me perplexed with some of his points.

First he kept on talking about the authorities having to be blamed for what happened. But which authority I could not figure out. Was it government or the transport authority. Secondly, I have not yet experienced this apparent cut in transport fares from Banjul to Tabokoto that Lamin’s letter stated, for as far as I know, Banjul to Tabokoto has always been D8.00 since the last transport fares increment. That makes it D3.00 difference from what it cost to travel form Serekunda to Banjul. Actually it is up to the driver to determine which route he plys.

In any case, me and my dear friend, lamin, share a common concern about the chronic problem of drivers’ persistent attitude of insincererity. The practice of taking passengers with the pretext of stopping at West Field, from Tabokoto, only to reload and continue to Banjul, making it a force for passengers to pay for double fare, is cruel and unjustifiable. The act is only born out of greed and godlessness.

I do believe that both government and the transport union have equal role to play in solving this problem. The former  through its law enforcement department and the later through the rules that governs its fraternity. If you are to succeed in our stride to transform the Gambia to a prosperous nation we must first change our attitudes.

Borry Njie

Pirang