Efforts To Contain COVID 19: " Stop Military Extortion, Reduce Fuel Prices"-CAB DRIVERS Petition Gov’t.
By Raymond Dingana
Cab Drivers in
Bamenda, chief town of the North West Region of Cameroon have invited the powers that
be to stop military extorting, initiate a Complete Suspension of Taxes, the
complete suspension of control of Car Documents by security officials, a
reduction in fuel prices among others so that, they can better contribute their
own quarter in arresting the situation.
According to Nji Pius, North West Regional
president of the National Trade Union of Workers of the Land Transport Sector,
SYNESTER, if all these are not taken into consideration, the fight against the
deadly COVID 19 by Cab Drivers in Bamenda may just be heading for the rocks.
“We have decided to avoid over loading of our vehicles as
a way to limit the spread of the deadly COVID 19 Virus. From now hence forth, we will be transporting
one in front and two behind in order to respect the one meter social distance.
This can only be possible if security officers stop extorting monies from us.
If they continue, we may go back to our old habit of overloading in order to
also satisfy them. By so doing, the virus is going to spread and the blame will
be on security officials .We also invite government to consider suspending
taxes; suspend the control on car documents by security forces, the reduction
of fuel prices among others”
. Ndi Pius said.
Those who tried
implementing the decision by transporting just one person in front and two behind
are already complaining that, security forces along the Bamenda-Bambili road,
Bamenda Santa, Bamenda Bali roads and others are forcing them to still be
giving one thousand FCFA and that, at
times, they are forced to give monies to six control posts.
“I have decided to hands-off the fight against corona
virus because, i cannot be transporting three persons to Bambili and i am still
forced to settle control. Did i come here to work for others? Uniform officers
are well paid, yet they behave like they have not been paid for years. My family will not die of hunger because i want
to fight against Corona Virus. Since the forces of law and order want Corona to
kill us all, so be it”. Chia, a
Cab driver said.
Many in Bamenda have also
been ignoring the measures put in place by government to combat the swell of
the COVID 19 virus. Many still shake hands just anyhow; bikes are seen carrying
more than one person at a time when they are supposed to transport just one at
a time, this according to an order from the North West Administration, bars
still operate after six pm, public gatherings especially in markets are still
to be checked, inter urban transporters are yet still overload their buses and
the list is long.
With all these unenthusiastic approaches to
arrest the COVID 19 Virus, there are fears that, should this persist, the
people of Bamenda may just be opening their doors for the COVID 19 Virus
to make a triumphant entry into their abodes. This is to say that, the fight to contain the
COVID 19 virus may just be heading for the rocks if care is not taken.
DrayInfos+237676238865
Comments