By Desmond Lewis
Hundreds of bike riders along Wilkinson Road by YSC took to the street on Tuesday morning protesting and showing their anger about the new law of stopping commercial vehicles not to ply the route during the day when the new public buses are en route.
According to Mohamed Jakitay, one of the angry protesters, the reason for their actions is to send a message to the government or authority in charge of the ‘Waka Fine’ buses that enough is enough.
Our reporter who was at the scene at the time described the scene as peaceful, as hundreds of bike riders packed their bikes in front of the Waka Fine bus on both lanes.
According to our reporter, the Waka fine bus was blocked for over 30 minutes delaying passengers who were on their way to work, and long queue of vehicles on standstill. The riders then moved on to Aberdeen Road performing the same action, delaying the Waka Fine bus. Before the arrival of the police the riders had left the scene.
Speaking to our reporter, the Director of Amnesty International, Solomon Sogbandi said, “This is a total mess of violation of freedom of movement. Nobody should be restricted in moving anywhere in the Country except during emergency or other legal or lawful restrictions,” Sogbandi said.
Jakitay told our reporter that people are suffering for transport.
“We are fighting for our rights. Government has no right to stop kekeh, bike and even PodaPoda (minibuses) to ply the route which the buses are using. People are suffering for transport. One of our colleagues was stopped even to go to Aberdeen Road from Collegiate School Junction. Why? Are we not sierra Leoneans? We have licenses, and families to feed. This is the only Country where such things will happen,” Jakitay said
A businesswoman, Mariatu Kamara, said that the suffering is too much for them. She stated that the government bus price should be cheaper than commercial transport. She said that if the bus was cheaper, then people would rush to get their service.