Jamaica
Gasolene Retailers Association (JGRA) ready to pull
the pump
Jamaica
Gleaner
KINGSTON
Petroleumworld.com
08 14 06
The
Jamaica Gasolene Retailers Association (JGRA) is
maintaining that its members will withdraw petroleum
supplies from government vehicles, unless the Shell
marketing company grant them an increased profit
margin by August 13.
On
July 13, JGRA president, Trevor Heaven, issued an
ultimatum warning both Shell and the Government
that retailers would withdraw, for two days, petroleum
supplies to all government and government-related
vehicles, except those used for critical and emergency
services.
30-day
deadline
The
retailers are requesting an increase from four to
six per cent in profit margin. Failure to respond
within 30 days, they warned, could result in further
protest action.
"We
have been having dialogue with Shell and the Government,"
the JGRA president told The Gleaner yesterday. "I
believe that there is light at the end of the tunnel,
but I do not know if the movement we have had so
far will be satisfactory to the retailers, so we
are not withdrawing the ultimatum."
Since
the contract period that ended in 2004, the price
for fuel at the commencement of January 2003 was
an average of $16.50 per litre, giving retailers
a profit margin of four per cent. The JGRA head
contends, however, that billing prices have since
increased to $55 per litre, yielding only a one
per cent profit margin.
"The
last thing we want to do is to dislocate any of
our customers and the Government is a customer so
we are hoping that there will be an amicable solution
that will be satisfactory to all," he added.
Yesterday,
Joseph Issa, chief executive officer at Cool Petroleum
Corporation, the local operators of Shell, said
the marketing company, the JGRA and the Government
were treating the matter with the utmost urgency.
"I
am confident that a fair and workable solution will
be found," Mr. Issa told The Gleaner.
Jamaica Gleaner
Friday | August 4, 2006
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