Executives of the Liberia United Drivers Incorporated (LUD) in Margibi County and the Kakata City Mayor have challenged one another over the usage of two parking lots established by the Union in the City.
Mayor Emmanuel M. Goll has warned the group not to use the purported parking lots located on the Bong Mine Road and Doe Palace Junction on grounds that he was not aware of the establishment of the parking lots and besides, the lives of the passengers will be at risk.
But on the contrary, heads of the Union has insisted that they will use the area for their drivers to park, load their cars and thereafter be dispatched to their various destinations.
The Chairman of LUD, J. Eddison Z. Wontie in an interview with newsmen at the end of a forum held between the Kakata City Corporation and the Union at the Kakata City Hall on Tuesday, February 5, 2019 said as of Wednesday February 6, 2019, all drivers that ply from Kakata to Weala, Bong, Nimba and Lofa Counties will use the areas secured by his group amidst the Mayor’s warning.
“You will force the horse to go to the waterside but you will not force it to drink, the Mayor is not going to over ride the rights of the citizens, the passengers have said that the distance from here to Sackie Flomo area is far, they are saying they are not able to put load in wheel barrel and go to Sackie Flomo place it is almost like forty dollars, fifty dollars on motor bike” he said.
Mr. Wontie indicated that it is disheartening for the Mayor to tell the Union that is recognized and is paying taxes to go to his designated parking lot (Sackie Flomo place) that is controlled by the Federation of Road Transport Union of Liberia (FRTUL).
According to him, FRTUL and LUD are two different organizations paying taxes to government and there is no need for the Mayor to come out with such decision though he said the two Unions can work together.
“LUD is an entity that can stand by itself especially where it has two parking lots with one at the Doe Palace junction with another one on the Bong Mine Road that can accommodate about hundred cars” Wontie explained.
Mr. Wontie argued that he is not violating the order of the Mayor but his decision is by the demand and rights of the Liberian people something he said matters.
He lamented that the parking lots established by his Union are suitable because they are off the road promising to build a terminals in the areas. He accused the Mayor of being bias in that he is liaising with FRTUL denying LUD which is also a recognized Institution from operating.
Meanwhile, Mayor Goll has challenged LUD Executives stating that he dare them to order their drivers to park their cars to the areas created by them (LUD).
“If they call themselves men let them try it, ma man that authority they playing with they are not playing with wheel boy the talking to state authority le-moh try it tomorrow,” he told Journalist.
The City Mayor has however threatened to take legal action against the Union or flatten the tires of the drivers if they violate his order.
