In Liberia: Pem-Pem Union Bows

The motorcyclists have pledged to be law-abiding

Barely two weeks into an apparent standoff between the police and motorcyclists over the effective enforcement of a 10p.m. curfew imposed on commercial motorcycling, widely known as “Pem Pem,” the motorcyclists  finally succumbed (caved in, gave in) to the embargo (clampdown, ban) on their all-night commuting and pledged to abide by the 10 p.m. deadline.

They have pledge to keep off the streets as of 10 p.m. as instructed by the Liberia National Police (LNP). The motorcyclists, through the Liberia Motorcycle Transport Union (LMTU), recently met at a conference with the Ministry of Transport in Monrovia, and at that summit (get together, gathering) agreed not to remain on the streets beyond the deadline set.

The 10 p.m. security curfew, according to the police, aimed at helping reduce the alarming crime rate in the country. Already, residents have hailed the move by the police, saying that the crime- rate in their various localities has dropped. But the bike-riders, believed that their right to free movement---as enshrined in the Constitution---had been violated: they complained about how the strategy (policy, plan) had drastically hurt their earnings.

But their vow to defy the police curfew order only strengthened the Law’s resolve to discourage anyone from thinking that---like apparently everyone else that seems to believe he or she can do anything they want---they were in control.  Police Inspector General C. Clarence Massaquoi, made plain what was in store for anyone that wanted to try him by breaking the law. 

But a Transport Ministry release issued yesterday in Monrovia said Robert Sammie, Augustine Kanneh and Isaac W. Kermue, all of the LMTU leadership, had promised to co-operate with the imposed security measure.

The release quoted the leadership of The LMTU as saying that they remain “government-friendly and law-abiding” and urged (their) members to follow suit.” The LMTU officials assured government of their membership’s desire to abide by the 10pm deadline, pending peaceful settlement with the police for extension. Or, maybe, a sharp decrease in the incidence (frequency, rate, number) of crime with the aid or assistance of motor cycles---or their operators, he should have added.