Freedom Newspaper (Raleigh, North Carolina)
Mb Ceessay And Lamin Kinteh
13 April 2008
Banjul — At the time of penning down this story there was an acute fuel shortage in The Gambia, making life extremely tough for the commuters. This is the second time in a year that fuel shortage is hitting the tiny West African country.
According to our correspondents hundred of vehicles could be seen packed at various petrol stations in the country as drivers struggle to get some gallons of diesels . "The fuel shortage is seriously causing huge headache to the traveling public particularly we the civil servants, as we always find it hard to reach office and home on time " a 34-year-old lady told the Freedom Newspaper, describing the situation as an absolute abysmal.
" Many private car owners and commercial vehicle drivers are currently bereft of petrol and now joining pedestrians to walk to reach to their destinations."
Our correspondents added that in the wake of the fuel shortage, taxi drivers are now exploiting the commuters by unnecessary and unfairly increasing the fares. " Now from West field to Bakau you are charge double fares because taxi drivers make two stops. Other areas are also suffering equally to get transportation" she posited.
She adds: "In fact every morning Traffic Police officer are dispatch at West field to help ease the tension as jostling for space in the few available vehicles is the order of the day. Some unscrupulous people are now seizing the opportunity to rub the troubled commuters" .
Meanwhile, observers say the fuel shortage is inimical to the economic health of the country as it has the tendency to cripple the economy if authorities fail to take action.
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