The threat of a 48-hour strike, with blockades, by public transport on Tuesdays and Wednesdays of this week has generated a tense situation between transporters and the Government, also causing uncertainty in the population.
This announced strike, after the breakdown in the negotiations between the carriers with the Government, generates discomfort in the population that is affected in their daily work.
The Confederation of Drivers of Bolivia decided last Thursday to hold a strike demanding the deferral of bank loans; they do not accept the six-month grace period determined by the Government.
The federated drivers strongly rejected the agreement signed by the Ministry of Economy with other transport sectors, because they consider that there are contradictions.
In search of paving the way for a solution, the Government has extended an invitation, through a statement, to the Drivers Confederation, to join the agreement on the payment of bank interest with a grace period of six months, without the non-principal interest payment, according to a note from state agency ABI.
The drivers argue that they did not accept this agreement because this “grace” period only postpones the payment of the installments, but it will imply that the amount is accumulated in the period of those six months, for which they consider that it is “threatening the economy of your families”.
For this reason, the leader of the Confederate transport, Ismael Fernández, reiterated that the only alternative they have is to take pressure measures, in this specific case a strike with blockades for 48 hours.
The drivers already carried out a 24-hour strike on Tuesday of last week, a protest that caused the annoyance of the population, which had to mobilize on foot, avoiding blockade points. The drivers obstruct the streets with their mobility, placing branches, stones, signs and what they find in their path.
In the strike carried out last week, the presence of sun blockers who did not use chinstraps and who did not maintain a social distance of at least one and a half meters was observed.
This concern arises at a time when cases of coronavirus infection have skyrocketed, reaching more than 2,000 cases on average each day.
Last Friday, January 15, Bolivia reported a new record of COVID infections in a single day, with 2,573 cases of the disease.
Faced with this situation, the Ministry of Health recommended avoiding massive concentrations of people, always use the mask and maintain social distance, situations that are not always met when pressure measures are carried out on public roads, in this case blocking streets .
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