By Brima Sannoh
Public transportation in Sierra Leone plays a critical role in the daily lives of its citizens, facilitating movement for schoolchildren, workers and businesspeople alike. However, a concerning trend has emerged along the Bombay Street-Waterloo route, where some Poda-Poda drivers have developed the detestable habit of abandoning passengers halfway through their journeys. This practice, particularly prevalent during morning rush hours, leaves passengers stranded at locations such as Rokupa and Portee, forcing them to scramble for alternative transportation under difficult and chaotic conditions.
The consequences of this exploitation are manifold. Passengers experience delays, causing schoolchildren to miss valuable class time, workers to arrive late and traders to lose business opportunities. In addition to the obvious inconvenience, this practice imposes significant mental and physical stress on already burdened commuters.
Equally troubling is the apparent indifference of law enforcement officers, who seem to turn a blind eye to these injustices. There are widespread allegations that “bookings” have become a routine practice, where apprentices aboard these vehicles reportedly pay “mandatory” sums to representatives allegedly acting on behalf of police officers. This system, it is argued, compromises the integrity of enforcement, allowing exploitative practices to continue unchecked.
Some have defended the drivers, suggesting that as operators of commercial vehicles, they have the prerogative to determine their stopping points. However, this argument fails to hold water when these vehicles are licensed to ply government-approved routes with designated destinations. Reneging on these responsibilities for personal gain is not only unprofessional but also exploitative.
Despite previous commitments by the police to address this issue, tangible actions remain elusive. This inertia perpetuates the suffering of residents in the Western Rural District, who rely heavily on transportation between Waterloo and the Western Urban Area. Compounding the problem, overcrowding in Poda-Podas has become a norm, with drivers cramming five passengers into rows designed for four. This practice not only causes significant discomfort but also raises safety concerns.
Where are the voices of advocacy in all this? The once-active Passengers Welfare Organization appears to have gone silent, leaving a vacuum in the representation of passenger interests. Similarly, the Motor Drivers Union has failed to address the root causes of this ongoing exploitation, further eroding trust in systems meant to protect the public.
