Scores of passengers, who ply the Banjul-Barra crossing level by boat, have expressed their issues over the security of those boats and the amount of cash they spend on fares.
The commuters’ criticism got here barely hours after the ferry companies ceased its operation which is anticipated to final for 30 days.
The commuters grumbled that the amount of cash they spend on fares to be transported by the canoe operators is D50. However on prime of that, they must pay for his or her belongings and the younger males who carry them on their shoulders from the shore to the canoes.
In accordance with among the commuters, they every spent about D100 on fare in order that they might be transported from one financial institution of the river to the opposite.
“Immediately, crossing the river by boat is tough because the fare cost by ferry operators may be very costly. I’ve items with me. So,I’ve to pay D100 for me to be transported to Barra,” Fatoumatta Sey stated.
Madam Sey, who’s in her sixties, complained that it was unlucky that she was carried by younger males for her to embark and disembark from the canoe. She stated she had no selection, so she needed to take the one choice obtainable to her.
Some ladies and women expressed concern that they have been carried by younger males on their shoulders whereas they have been embarking and disembarking from a canoe.
Madam Sey stated she lives in Essau and she or he got here to Banjul to obtain her garments for her enterprise.
She expressed hope that the ferry companies would resume operation after the 30 days interval introduced by the GPA.
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Maria Sarr, a resident of Banjul, stated she was not conscious that the ferries stopped operation on Wednesday.
She turned conscious when she reached the ferry terminal as she was heading to Karang to ship some items.
“I’ve to handle with the small boats however I’m confused since I’ve to be carried by these younger males on their shoulders to ensure that me to get to the canoe,” she stated.
Sulayman Bah, additionally a passenger, defined that it’s scary to be transported through a small boat.
Mr. Bah stated passengers ought to perceive that Gambia Ports Authority (GPA) is working for the larger good.
Ebrima Njie, a ship proprietor from Barra, defined that there are two varieties of canoes which can be at the moment plying the waters amid the absence of the ferries.
He stated they’ve the taxi canoe which is the smaller boat that operates primarily based on rents, including that the larger canoes are those licensed to hold about 60-70 passengers.
“We’re managing with the purchasers as most of them do not know something about the best way to embark on a canoe as a result of most of them are afraid,” he stated.
Pa Touchdown Senghor, one of many younger males who carry the passengers to and from the canoes, stated every particular person they keep it up their shoulders is charged D10.
He stated the passengers pay D50 to the individuals working the canoes and that he believed the fares must be decreased.
“I heard some individuals complaining that the fares are costly for them,” he stated.
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