—- As UP Chair, CDC, Others Call for No Go Zone Revision 

IPNEWS: There seems a high potential for violence over recent mandate by police authorities for a ‘no go zone’ for motorcyclist plying major roads in Liberia’s capital Monrovia.

Ahead of the government expected enforcement of the ‘no go zone’ for motorcyclist on Wednesday, May 15, leaders of motorcyclist and tricycles have called for an indefinite strike action beginning Monday, May 13, across Montserrado county.

The spokesman for the Motorcyclist and Tricycles Trokon Reginald Gray, AKA Yellow Machine, calls on all motorcyclist and tricyclist to assemble at the grounds of the Legislature dress in white signifying peace in demand of jobs.

Gray stated that it is heartless for the government to place a ‘no go zone’ on this due the lack of jobs to feed their families even after tireless period of hard campaign to see the coming to being of the Joseph Boakai’s administration.

“I heard the Police Director saying he has pepper spray, hot water truck to ensure no motorcyclist of tricyclist ride in Monrovia, but we will not wait for his ultimatum for Wednesday, May 15, we will park our motorbikes. My fellow colleagues, we will park our bikes and march to the capital building well-dressed to demand jobs. Tell all your friends, this is a national call, and we must demand jobs as citizens and taxes payers of this country.” Trokon Reginald Gray, said amidst cheers of supporters under the slogan ‘touch on touch all’.

Amidst the potential for violence, Unity Party’s Chairman, Rev. J. Luther Tarpeh, alarmed for an immediate intervention by Vice President Jeremiah Koung to easing growing tension between the Liberia National Police and commercial motorcyclists nationwide.

In a communication to Vice President Koung, Rev. Tarpeh, stated appeals to the government to relinquish its plan to ban motorcyclists and tricyclists from plying the principal streets of Monrovia.

According to him timeliness of the action is worrisome and should be revisited to avoid problem.

He says although the government’s measures are meant to promote safety and orderliness in the capital, its timing could be misconstrued as an act of ungratefulness to young men, who overwhelmingly supported the Rescue Mission during the 2023 election that brought President Joseph Boakai to the Liberian Presidency.

“Mr. Vice President, I write to draw your attention to the growing tension between the Liberian National Police (LNP) and the commercial motorcyclists since the LNP proposed a ban preventing motorcyclists from accessing main streets in Monrovia, beginning May 15, 2024”, the Chairman’s communication reads.

“Several of them traveled with us everywhere at their own expense on the campaign trail because they wanted better living conditions for themselves and their families. I remain optimistic about our government’s economic deliverable to the people of Liberia very soon.”

However, he cautions that the timing of this mandate is worrisome, as implementation may affect bread-and-butter issues for young people in the sector, the majority of whom are jobless.

Tarpeh maintains that VP Koung’s timely intervention cannot be overemphasized to help ease growing tension on this matter, as opposition politicians are gearing up to capitalize on the police mandate to turn the people against the Boakai-led government.

He, at the same time, proposes to Vice President Jeremiah Koung to convene a roundtable between the Liberia National Police and motorcyclists to find common ground and discuss safety issues in the traffic instead of banning them from plying major roads in the first three months of the administration.

Weeks ago, the government, through the Liberia National Police, signed a symbolic MOU with motorcyclists.

In the MOU, the LNP was restricted from the ELWA junction to Central Monrovia and from Freeport of Monrovia to Central Monrovia as no-go zones for motorcyclists and tricycle (keh-keh) riders beginning May 15, 2024.

Recently, the former ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) vowed to resist the removal of motorcyclists from major streets across Monrovia.

CDC described the planned removal from the streets of all motorcyclists as counterproductive and marginalization of the ordinary citizens.

Janga Kowo, Acting Chairman of the CDC addressing a press conference Monday, April 29, in Monrovia, said motorcyclists are integral part of the local economy as such, their removal is aim at taking bread from the mouths of the cyclists. The CDC contents that the government action will never accept.

“ The road doesn’t belong to Boakai and his gang”. Kowo exclaimed.

However, a recent Memorandum of Understanding on road and public safety signed between the Liberia National Police and Motorcycle and Tricycle Union agreed for a deadline of May 15,2024, to clear off the streets all motorcyclists from major streets across Liberia.

Kowo, addressing hundreds of supporters of the party at the headquarters, said his party will resist any attempt by the police to remove motorcyclists from the streets of Monrovia, noting, motorcyclists are integral part of the local economy as such, their removal is aim at taking bread from the mouths of the cyclists, Kowo told journalists.

On Tuesday, April 23, 2024, Deputy Police for Operation, Nelson Freeman signed the MOU on behalf of the police, while Mr. John Kenyor, the president of the Motorcycle and Tricycle Union, signed for his organization.

Freeman, speaking at the police headquarters during the signing ceremony, stated that the MOU was agreed upon on April 2, 2024, but it will take effect on May 15, 2024.

He mentioned that over the last month, the police have conducted a safety campaign to ensure safety measures for Liberian society.

“Today, we address the issue of Motorcyclists, next, we will engage with the truck drivers’ union and other stakeholders affected by the police safety measures. We aim to create conditions wherein drivers plying the streets will observe all safety rules,” he stated.

He further explained that, according to the MOU, both the police and the Union have agreed to designate the roads from Freeport to Central Monrovia and all parts of town as restricted areas for the movement of motorcycles.

The Deputy Inspector General for Operations elaborated that the route from ELWA junction through Tubman Boulevard and the rest of Monrovia will also be designated as a restricted area for motorcycles.

He added that, similarly, Kehkeh riders will be allowed to ride from Freeport through Clara Town and Via Town areas. However, Kehkeh riders will not be permitted to use the new bridge but must use the old bridge leading to Waterside and other areas.

The Deputy Police boss asserted that Kehkeh en route from Airfield and New Matadi will use the Jallah Town Road to Benson Street corridors to enter town. Kehkeh riders will be allowed to use the Japan Freeway and also the ELWA to RIA route, he stated.

Mr. John Kenyor, president of the union, pledged his group’s support for the MOU, and further stressed the importance of respecting the agreement between both parties, as there will be punishments for violators.

But in reaction to this MOU, the CDC said it will not allow such to be achieved, noting that such will not hold, a situation that seems to smell trouble and create fear in many Liberians, mainly commuters.