Francis Kamara, the vice chairman of motor drivers in Regent Road, a popular point of departure for commercial vehicles plying from Freetown to Tonko Limba and Bramaia chiefdom, has said that unavailability of vehicles and poor road conditions have made it difficult for drivers to make the run to the two Chiefdoms. He made this disclosure when he spoke to Premier News on Friday October 30, 2020.
Kamara revealed that currently they have only one vehicle making effectively runs to the two chiefdoms because the road condition from Madina to Bramaia is worst than from Kambia to Madina. “The passengers can reach Kukuna by motorbike and that usually costs them Le 30,000 per person,” he said.
“Some drivers have decided not to visit the chiefdoms anymore because of the frequent road accidents. At first, drivers used to go to the chiefdoms and return in the same day, but they are only doing one trip a day.”
Kamara said that in the past they had more than two vehicles making the trip to the chiefdoms. “Sometimes due to the poor road network they will remain in the province for more than three days repairing their vehicles,” before making the trip back to Freetown.
He said that the outbreak of the coronavirus has also contributed to the insufficiency of the vehicles, stating that the number of passengers which they usually take has been reduced by the government to observe coronavirus protocols thus reducing the commercial viability of their effort.
“Drivers used to take 20 passengers before, but now that has been reduced to 10 passengers a trip,” he revealed, adding that as a result of the poor road condition and lack of vehicles, traders no longer visit the two chiefdoms for the purpose of buying of transporting trade goods to the area and buy produce from there. He expressed dismay over that situation which he said has negatively affected not only the farmers nor the traders but also the Drivers Union at Regent Road.
He said that to minimize the damage on the road, they usually mobilize youths to maintain the route, but their work on the road only lasts for few days.
He said that, they have tried to reach out to the government but no one has come to their help.
He said that it is even hard for them now as family heads to take care of their homes and the unit as a whole. “We are appealing to the government to provide more vehicles and help construct the roads from Kambia to Kukuna,” he concluded.
By Ibrahim S.Bangura
4/11/2020. ISSUE NO: 7943