Thiès, May 7 (APS) – The introduction of a deposit to be paid by any candidate for the position of president of the Regroupement des chauffeurs de Thiès, during the renewal of the association’s office, is at the heart of a controversy, the bus station of this city, where it is not unanimous.
As the mandate of outgoing President Pape Diop expired in December 2023, a list of candidates was open for one week.
At the end of the allotted time, only the outgoing president, affiliated with the National Union of Transporters of Senegal led by Alassane Ndoye, had put the required amount on the table, Pape Diop himself told the press.
Having observed this, Alassane Ndoye, whose union is in the majority at the Thiès bus station, decided to come and install Pape Diop for a second term.
The latter indicates having requested that this installation be postponed so that a consultation can first be held with the opposing party of the bus station, to arrive at a consensual and peaceful solution.
In the meantime, the opposition camp, a coalition of 9 candidates, called And Jubanti Transport, asked to meet the outgoing president this Tuesday for a discussion.
The agenda of the meeting focused on the destination of the money paid by the “Allô Dakar” cars at the bus station, the date of holding the renewal elections, as well as the arrangements for organizing this election. .
The coalition wants, like his predecessor, the outgoing president to contact the prefect for impartial supervision of the electoral process.
The members deplored the non-compliance by the outgoing team with the procedure in changing the regulations, introducing the deposit.
This clause was included during a general meeting during which the “quorum was not reached”, reports Serigne Guèye, technical advisor to the outgoing president.
He requests the intervention of administrative authorities and those responsible for the transport sector, asking them to “act before it is too late”.
He announced that they will “exhaust all avenues of appeal”, before “taking (their) responsibilities”, if nothing is done.
Ndongo Thiam, secretary general of the Thiès Drivers’ Association, argues for his part that “all procedures were respected” and that all acts carried out by the office were noted by a bailiff and recorded in reports. These documents were then sent to the authorities, he added.
The latest census for the renewal of membership cards shows 1,703 members registered, compared to more than 4,448 during the last election. The meeting between the two sides ended without any consensus.
ADI/ASG/MTN
