Skopje, 22 November 2024 (MIA) - Citizens of Shuto Orizari municipality, high school and university students held a protest on Friday in front of the offices of the City of Skopje, expressing dissatisfaction from the state of public transport in the city.

Shuto Orizari Mayor Kurto Dudush said that the citizens of Shuto Orizari municipality haven't had access to public transportation for 730 days. According to him, it is racist, discriminatory, inhumane, and irresponsible that 40,000 citizens haven't had access to public transport for two years now.

"Yesterday you said that it is unseemly for Skopje citizens to remain even one day without public transport due to the lack of fuel. Then what word would you use for the citizens of Shuto Orizari, who haven't had access to public transport for 730 days. I would use the word racist. It is racist, discriminatory, inhumane, and irresponsible that for two years now, 40,000 citizens haven't had access to public transport," Dudush stressed.

He demanded Skopje Mayor Daniela Arsovska to stick to the timeline published on the website of the Public Transport Enterprise (JSP) and for the bus lines to Shuto Orizari Municipality to be reinstated.

Ss. Cyril and Methodius University Student Assembly president Aleksandar Nikolovski said that according to a survey of over 3,500 students, 85 percent of students waited more than 15 minutes for a bus, and 65 percent had to wait for more than 20 minutes over the past fortnight; and 95 percent of students are not satisfied with the public transportation services offered by the City of Skopje.

"The Student Assembly decided to join the protest because we believe that university and high school students must not suffer the consequences of personal, party, and political disputes. Therefore, we demand you stop abusing the well-being of students during their exam sessions," Nikolovski added.

Due to lack of fuel, only 30 buses were put into service in the last two days, 25 of which run on gas. The situation was solved with a government decision to provide JSP fuel from the state reserves for one week.

Photo: MIA