South
drivers face gas shortage
By
Leah Mathura-Dookhoo / Sandra Chouthi
Trinidad Guardian
Port Spain
Petroleumworldtt.com.
06 11 06
By
Leah Mathura-Dookhoo
South
Trinidad was hit by a gas shortage yesterday. The
shortage fuelled fears that if Petrotrin workers
continue to stay off the job, it could be days before
drivers and fishermen would be able to receive a
normal supply.
Several
service stations from as far as Mayaro to Icacos
posted small signs at their business place yesterday
notifying customers that they were out of stock
of premium, regular, super, diesel and other fuels.
The
shortage came a day after Petrotrin employees walked
off the job owing to a breakdown in wage negotiations
between the company and Oilfield Workers Trade Union
(OWTU) officials.
In
a panic buying attempt, scores of service stations
ran dry yesterday as cars spilled unto the streets
in long lines causing massive pile ups.
Yesterday,
several large trucks attempting to enter the Petrotrin’s
bond distribution site at Pointe-a-Pierre were turned
away by angry workers who prevented them for gaining
access.
Vice
president of the Petroleum Dealers Association Ramdeo
Maharaj, said while some drivers were allowed into
the bond area, no bulk tankers were filled, owing
to the shortage of staff at the company’s
distribution point.
OWTU
first vice president Ancil Roget said, while he
sympathised with the driving public, Petrotrin employees
had a right to protest their displeasure with the
company’s lacklustre response to their demands.
Even
taxi drivers plying the Gulf City to San Fernando
route hiked up their fare from $3 to $10.
By
1 pm, a few NP trucks from Sea Lots arrived in San
Fernando to restore supplies at Rushworth Street,
Cross Crossing and Lady Hailes Avenue stations.
From
as early as 6 am, disgruntled Petrotrin employees
dressed in red and navy, congregated at the oil
company’s administration building, bunker
entrance, and even at the Augustus Long Hospital.
For the second day in a row they failed to show
up for work, demanding a 35 per cent wage increase.
The
oil company has agreed only to an eight per cent
increase following discussions between officials
and the union last week.
The
OWTU is negotiating with the company for a new collective
agreement for 2005 to 2008.
…North
stations not affected
By
Sandra Chouthi
A
supervisor at Neil Boodoosingh’s service station
on Lady Hailes Avenue, San Fernando, said the station
got a supply of premium and super gasoline at about
1 pm yesterday. However, a supervisor at Ramdass
Balkaran service station in Debe said the station
had no fuel.
“We
don’t have anything,” the supervisor
said.
“Everything
finished yesterday evening. We ordered and we’re
hoping to get.”
Port-of-Spain
motorists appeared to have fared better.
Cintra
Aziz-Gonzales, manager at Richmond Service Centre
on Richmond Street said the station received super
gasoline yesterday morning, but no premium.
“We
were out for two hours yesterday, but got (a supply)
at about 6 pm,” she said.
Corporate
communications officer at NP Nneka Luke said trucks
were refuelling at NP House at Sea Lots and were
being sent to those stations with low supplies.
“We
will work as hard as we can, based on supply, to
take fuel out to the stations. We’ll make
sure our distribution chain is working despite what
is happening at Petrotrin. The trucks will refuel
and go out as needed.”
Trinidad
Guardian
Wednesday
7th June, 2006
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©2006 Trinidad Guardian All Rights Reserved.
