During a union meeting in Tripoli, the head of the Federation of Labor Unions and Employees in North Lebanon, النقيب شادي السيد ( النقيب Shadi El Sayed ), stated that “the continuation of the crises plaguing the land transport sector is an indictment of all officials who see the results of this bad reality on the ground, which is reflected in various sectors and also reflected in the social life that has been linked to land transport throughout history in Lebanon.”
He also pointed out that “today we are surprised at how officials know very well all the facts in numbers regarding the number of cars carrying forged plates, the number of buses carrying forged plates, and the number of vehicles operating illegally without even a forged plate. Consequently, they are turning a blind eye to this reality.”
He added: “If we assume, for the sake of argument, that they want to search for a real and appropriate solution for all those who make a living from this profession, we are surprised at the same time that they are not rushing to legalize or put everyone under the umbrella of the law. Therefore, we believe that immediately moving towards a comprehensive settlement in Lebanon that addresses this issue from A to Z is the obvious thing that the government should pursue. Otherwise, resorting to the streets, blocking roads, and causing a crisis is normal, because a crisis can only be faced with a crisis, and fire can only be treated with fire. When forging iron , it can only be straightened by melting it in fire, although we are, of course, at this time in Lebanon’s history, when the country is trying to regain its health, needless of any action on the ground, but we do not want to find ourselves forced to do so.”
Mr. El Sayed concluded his speech by saying: “Accordingly, we announce from Tripoli that the transport sector in the North supports the head of the Land Transport Unions in Lebanon, الحاج بسام طليس (Al-Hajj Bassam Tleiss), and supports his demands, warns of the issues he warned about, agrees with him on all demands, and urges the state to adopt a sound, upright, and beneficial approach for all transport sectors in Lebanon, from regular transport to transit, to drivers, and even maintenance workers. This is normal and taken for granted.” (National Agency)
