17 April, 2008

Sierra Express, Freetown

Police, Traffic Warden Harassment - Drivers Strike

Drivers in the Western Area last Monday went on a sit-down strike in protest to treatment meted out to them by Traffic Wardens and the Police, which brought traffic in the city to a standstill.

Speaking to Sierra Express, the chairman of the Drivers Employment Information and Resources Development Centre, Mr. Thaimu Kamara, said that the strike decision did not come from the Drivers Union, but from the drivers themselves.

Mr. Thaimu Kamara intimated that it is justifiable for the drivers to strike because officers in charge of traffic are over demanding bribes from the drivers and that it was good for the drivers not to work than to have confrontations with the traffic officers.  Drivers are said to be arrested for very minor cases and charged to court when they refuse officers concerned money.

Contacting the Police Officer in Charge of Traffic, Superintendent D.S. Koroma on the issue he said that he knew there was no strike action except that traffic was moving at a slow pace on the day in question.

At Eastern Police, Calaba Town, Saint John, Cline Town, and Fourah Bay Road, nowadays traffic officers do take bribes in broad day light. 

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