GPTC hastily laid to rest at a time when needed most

At a time when the transport system in the country is getting worse hence the need for a viable public transport system, the National Assembly Members has urgently and hastily repealed the Gambia Public Transport Corporation (GPTC) Act 1976 leading to the disbanding of the public transport service.

Sidia Jatta, former National Assembly Member for Wuli West Constituency and a member of the National Alliance for Democracy and Development, has earlier on noted that the transport situation in the country “is disastrous”, saying that one only needs to stand on the way, particularly at the Banjul Serrekunda Highway, “to see how disastrous” the transport situation has become.

On the heels of this, Minister of Works, Construction and Infrastructure, Francis Liti Mboge, sought on 19^th November 2012 the approval of the Lawmakers to repeal the Act that established the GPTC and the Parliamentarians did just as the Minister wished without any hesitation.

Ebrima Garba Cham, the secretary general of The Gambia National Trade Union Congress (GNTUC) has said that it is important for government to take a comprehensive mechanism as an institution of investment to develop a National Strategy of Transport in this country. 

This he said should include all public transport including the ferry services.

According to the Minister of Works, the government is ever conscious of its commitment to provide public transport for the socio-economic development of the country.  He hinted the parliamentarians that plans are on the way for the revival of public transport in line with the objectives of the Programme for Accelerated Growth and Employment (PAGE).

“It is only prudent that we must look to the not too distant future for realizing our dreams with regard to public transport,” he said.

The major aims of the disbanded GPTC were to operate and maintain the public transport services of The Gambia for the conveyance of passengers and goods.

In the decade of the 1990s the corporation slid into financial and operational difficulties. The bus fleet was aging, revenue earnings declined continuously while a lack of investment aggravated the situation. 

The Works and Construction Minister have noted that a business entity must either maximize revenue or cut costs to remain solvent.

“With the GPTC, neither was possible and the decision was, therefore, made to disband the corporation,” he said.