A major labour dispute at the Port of Banjul has escalated, with the Alport Staff Association demanding the immediate removal of Managing Director Salih Levent Kacar after 871 employees signed a vote-of-no-confidence petition against his leadership.

The association said the petition represents widespread loss of confidence in Levent ability to implement government-brokered agreements, address staff welfare concerns and restore industrial harmony at the port.

Out of 933 transferred staff listed by the association, 871 are said to have signed the petition, including employees of Banjul Shipyard.

The association has given the Alport board and the government five working days to act, warning that failure to remove the managing director and appoint a replacement could lead it to pursue further lawful administrative, regulatory, industrial and legal avenues.

The dispute centres on a government-brokered resolution reached on 6 June 2026 following industrial action at the port that disrupted operations for more than 48 hours.

According to the association, the resolution was intended to address outstanding issues relating to the concession transition, employment, staff welfare, the 2026 budget and industrial relations.

The staff body says employees returned to work in good faith after the agreement, but claims several commitments have since remained unimplemented or have been delayed.

Among the outstanding concerns cited are staff loans, training and capacity development, scholarship payments, overtime arrangements, salary and allowance harmonisation, terms and conditions of service, staff welfare and other obligations linked to the concession transition.

The association also accused management of inadequate communication, saying repeated delays and the need for staff representatives to continually pressure and escalate issues have further weakened confidence in management.

“This vote of no confidence will therefore be understood as a leadership and governance issue rather than a personal dispute,” the association said.

It called on the Alport board to “exercise its governance responsibly” by removing Evans and appointing a replacement capable of restoring confidence and ensuring implementation of agreed commitments.

The association also appealed to the Ministry of Transport, Works and Infrastructure to intervene in line with its monitoring and accountability responsibilities under the government-brokered agreement.

The staff representatives stressed that their action was not opposition to the Alport concession or development at the port.

They said their concerns were about fairness, dignity, workers’ rights, accountability and compliance with agreed terms and conditions.

They also rejected suggestions that the dispute was politically motivated.

“We are not opposition movement. We are not anti-government. We are not affiliated with any political party or political movement,” the association said.

The workers argued that the Port of Banjul is too important to the Gambian economy to remain caught in recurring industrial disputes.

They said their preferred outcome remains a peaceful resolution, but warned that industrial peace cannot be sustained through assurances that are not followed by action.

The association said it was prepared for the government and Alport board to independently verify the petition and authenticate the signatures.

It maintained that its ultimate objective is to restore confidence between management and workers and ensure a stable and productive port.

“We want peace, we want development, we want a successful port, but we also want justice, fairness, accountability and respect for the rights of Gambian employees,” the association said.

By Adama Makasuba