February 10, 2021
By: Mohamed Kargbo
A-Z Multimedia has been going around the capital Freetown gauging voices of the public regarding the hike in fuel prices. We bring you voices of the people contending fuel pump price increment…
Sorieba Kamara, Kekeh Driver, Freetown
We are not happy at all about the recent increase of prices of petroleum products in the market and this has even added more burden to us, due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, we are now taking only two passengers per trip and the increased pump price of fuel has just created more challenges for us commercial riders and drivers coupled with the 10:00am curfew. Because of the hike in prices, we have increased the price from le 2, 000 to le3, 000. We are calling on the Government of President Julius Maada Bio to see reason to reduce the prices of fuel and other petroleum products.
Abibatu Mansaray, a trader in Freetownsaid that, before the increment of petrol and other petroleum products, getting a vehicle was never difficult for them, but with the increment in price, they as commuters are facing more problems than ever before. Now, we have to pay more the normal price, this is affecting us greatly because as traders, our small profits are going towards transportation. She called on the Government to look into this, if not this fuel increase will add the existing poverty.
Alieu Pratt, a Mini-Bus Driver-Bus Station to Hill Station/Regent
We are really not happy about the current change in prices of fuel because things are not easy now and even to get ‘master money’ for the day is very difficult.
Government should ensure that this increase must not negatively affects us the drivers as well. Instead of passengers paying le1, 500 they should now pay le2, 000 for shorter distances and others as the case may be. A friend of ours just called her wife to send him money to buy fuel, because he could not make much from what he collected compare to the cost of fuel
Alimamy Sesay, a business man said that, the increment of petroleum commodities will double the cost of food stuffs and other items in the market. This will make it difficult for business people to make ends meet, because of the COVID-19 current partial lockdown and the 10:00pm curfew attached to it.
