Douala taxi drivers express grievances to SDO

Following the imminent strike action by syndicates in the urban transport sector due to plaguing disorder, a handful of taxi drivers' syndicates in Douala tabled their grievances to the Senior Divisional Officer for Wouri Thursday for discussion.

The grievances if looked into by the power that be, might avert the imminent strike action in the nation’s economic capital.

During the meeting attended by law enforcement officers, elements of the Airport Special Police Station and staff of the Transport Delegation, the Regional President of the National Syndicate of Professional Drivers, Nkouandou Mefire, decried the growing rate of clandestine transportation in the sector.

Vehicles with assorted colours and without badges that impose exorbitant tariff continue to operate in airports, railway stations, in front of hotels, night clubs, restaurants, and Rond Point and motor parks pave the way for unfair competition.

They also denounced the regular cab control by councils and urban council workers who asked for vehicle documents instead of asking just for council tax and the frequent harassment of taxi drivers by some men in uniform who focus on money instead of controlling car documents.

The non-respect of road signs and the police by motorbike riders, the bad state of some roads and the lengthy cleanup campaign carried out every last Thursday of the month in Douala IV that prohibit the circulation of taxis are also contained in the long list of grievances.

After listening to the complaints, the SDO for Wouri, Naseri Paul Bea, promised he will work with different stakeholders and make sure their supplications are taken into consideration. He promised that the four-hour cleanup campaign would be reduced, the exorbitant tariff practiced by the Douala Airport checked, and the frequent control of cabs by councils and urban council looked into while other grievances will be tackled gradually.