Ahead Of The May 15 Ultimatum
PHOTO: Police Deputy IG Atty. Freeman and Motorcyclist President at the signing ceremony
Monrovia, Liberia- The Liberia National Police, the motorcycle and tricycle Unions signed an agreement not to ply to some restricted areas in Central Monrovia and its surroundings, ahead of the May 15, 2024 ultimatum given commercial motorcylists and tricyclists not to operate in restricted areas.
As Garmah Never Lomo reports, the agreement was signed on Tuesday, April 23,2024 at the Headquarters of the Liberia National Police and it followed initial opposition expressed by some motorbike and tricycle operators about the decision.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, Atty. Nelson Freeman, Deputy Inspector General for Operations at the Liberia National police said, the restrictions of the cyclists is meant for public safety and to curtail accidents and crimes.
Atty. Freeman named from ELWA Junction, Japanese Freeway, National Port Authority and Broad Street in Central Monrovia among others as the restricted areas which motorcyclists and tricycles are prevented from plying.
According to him, the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Liberian Police and the motorcyclist Unions is embedded with numerous trainings for the cyclists.
He said the cyclists will be trained on road and public safety and also training pedestrians how to crossroads, and also teaching them about the traffic lights and their respective colors stand for.
Deputy Police Inspector General Atty. Freeman also disclosed that motorcyclists and tricycles users will be uniformed and they will be assigned a coding numbers based on their locations in Montserrado County.
The restricted is expected to kickoff on May 15,2024. Passengers are advised not to ride with cyclists to those restricted places mentioned above.
Atty. Freeman if a motorcyclist is found in violation, he fined not less two thousand Liberia dollars while tricycle will be at most four thousand Liberian dollars provided if those tricycles and motorcycles who will be caught violating are registered and if not, they will be impounded until their proper registrations including insurance are done.
For his part, the President of the Federation of motorcycle and tricycle Unions John Kenyor said, he strongly believes working collaboratively and constructively with state authorities will help keep the peace and stability of the country.
For his part, the National Association of Motorcycle and Tricycle Union of Liberia (NaTMoTUL) President John Kenyor during the Liberia National Police press briefing called on some of journalists to stop politizing the restriction on motorcycles and tricycles because their safety matters the most.
Speaking at the headquarters of the LNP in Monrovia on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, the President General of the motorcycle and tricycle union stressed that, the restriction is not about President Joseph Boakai but the safety of all; be it motorcycle, tricycle or non-riders.
Kenyor said he along with his team remain committed, resolute and unbending to the restriction placed on them; as such, agreed to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding the restriction, so as to allow investors come in the country to invest in the union.
“We are contributing a lot to the land and growth of this country,” Kenyor stated. According to him, they have over the years faced series of challenges; as such, to rebrand the entire union, they have to collaborate with the government to help keep the peace and stability of the country.
“This sector is challenge to the extent we encountered new-fellow riders every day. This is not what we want to be dying untimely death every day,” the Union’s President bewailed.
John mentioned that, “we intend to create awareness and provide training for our cyclists.” Also, he wants lawmakers to stop inciting cyclists because they are the direct victims of whatever penalties that come across them. He pointed out that, cyclists just in Monrovia alone are about 150,000 which he termed to be a huge number; adding that, each cyclists will be numbered and identified with a jacket. Kenyor calls on all motorcycle and tricycle riders to be a respect or of the law.