By Seedy Jobe
The president of the General Transport Union, Omar Ceesay, said Monday that recent increases in public transport fares are temporary measures driven by rising global fuel prices and mounting operational costs, adding that the union plans a nationwide review of fare structures.
Mr. Ceesay made the remarks during an interview on QTV’s This Morning program, following public concern after fares rose in some areas ahead of any official government announcement.
“Some drivers increased fares unofficially. We are aware of it because we are part of society, and at the same time, we use those vehicles,” Mr. Ceesay said. “But we have also seen the global market when it comes to diesel and petrol, and The Gambia cannot be an exception.”
He said the union convened its executive on April 1 after increased fuel costs were passed on to transport operators, many of whom rely on daily earnings to sustain their businesses.
“Those costs have been transferred to the operators, and this is their daily livelihood,” he said. “The operators, the drivers, cannot sustain the official price and still sustain their businesses.”
Mr. Ceesay said the union initially refrained from public comment in an effort to avoid escalating tensions.
“At that time, we were in crisis management,” he said. “Before you speak publicly, you must consider what you are going to say and what impact it will have on society.”
Union representatives subsequently met with government officials on April 2, 8, and 9 to assess the situation. Mr. Ceesay described the fare increases as part of a broader global trend linked to fluctuations in fuel prices.
“We recognized that this is a global phenomenon that is beyond The Gambia,” he said. “Currently, we cannot determine whether it will be resolved today or tomorrow.”
He said the union and government agreed on interim measures while a broader review is conducted. “For now, we will review the fares holistically and see what we can give to Gambians that they can afford,” he said.
Mr. Ceesay noted that fuel prices in The Gambia are reviewed monthly and do not automatically reflect immediate changes in international markets.
He also outlined the union’s structure, describing a 20-member executive supported by national and regional bodies, with local garages reporting through regional offices to the central leadership.
Despite representing transport workers, Mr. Ceesay said the union remained mindful of the financial strain on the public.
“The hardship doesn’t stop with us only; it affects us all,” he said. “So we all need to look at how to handle that situation.”
He added that the union would continue monitoring global fuel developments and work with the government in what he described as the national interest.
“We will monitor what happens before the end of the month,” he said. “Maybe before then the conflict might end, and prices will come down.”
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