The loss of employment and unpaid debts have prompted hundreds of tollbooth workers to attack the House of Commons. The employees, who appear irate and are carrying banners, claim to be hungry.
The Workers Union, which was made up of many handicapped people, defied the early morning rain in the nation's capital on Tuesday, July 5, and marched into the Parliamentary Chamber to voice their discontent with their living circumstances since the removal of tolls in November 2021.
Edward Duncan, Secretary to the Union, presented a petition to Parliament, alleging that the government had broken its obligations to relocate affected employees and to pay their salaries until they found other work.
He claimed that just two months' salary—November and December 2021—had been paid by the government. but did not credit their accounts between January 2022 to the present.
They argued that the situation is making their lives intolerable, which is why they are pleading with the government through Parliament to settle their wage arrears and reassign them right now.
They argued that the government should reinstate toll collection as the best way to handle the issue and free people up to return to the workforce and fulfil their share of the nation's development obligations.
He said, "This would allow the government to also improve on its tax collection to support development."
Together with her counterpart from the Minority, Ibrahim Ahmed, Deputy Majority Whip Madam Lydia Seyram Alhassan accepted the petition on behalf of the group and thanked them for choosing the democratic route and choosing to address their concerns to parliament instead of other authorities.
She gave the group her word that the Speaker would be informed of their issues and given prompt attention.
On the other side, Mr. Ahmed Ibrahim pointed out that anytime the two parties reach a consensus, the country as a whole succeeds, but when they disagree, the people suffer.