14:13
Image via shikomsa.com
By
Dr. Wolfgang H. Thome, eTN Uganda |
Oct 11, 2012
(eTN) - The ongoing negotiations between Kenya Ferry Services’
management and the union representing the staff of the sole transport
link between the island of Mombasa and the south coast, including the
fancied resorts along the Diani Beach, appear to be going badly,
according to a usually well-informed source from Mombasa.
There has been no narrowing of the gap since talks started between
demands and the management’s offer, raising the prospect of a
full-fledged strike as of tomorrow, Friday, October 12.
Should it come to this, traffic from and to the airport would be cut
off, stranding tourists going from the airport to the south coast
resorts and vice versa, while residents from both Mombasa as well as the
Likoni side of the channel dividing the island from the mainland would
be marooned on either side.
Notably not a word has been heard from the Ministry of Tourism, and
the Assistant Minister for Transport, Hassan Ali Joho, from the coast
himself, appears not to be answering his phone as more and more
desperate individuals are trying to have him get involved and mediate.
Tourism stakeholders are now keenly anticipating their leadership to
stand up and be counted and even make an appearance at the Reef Hotel
where the talks are ongoing, to plead with the union not to throw yet
another spanner into the works of tourism. Any prolonged strike could
seriously damage the reputation of
Kenya’s tourism industry and in a worst case scenario lead to lay-offs of staff on the south coast.
Kenya’s tourism industry and in a worst case scenario lead to lay-offs of staff on the south coast.
