Texaco stations out of fuel
If you couldn’t find fuel at selected gas stations today, you were not alone. News 5 has confirmed that Texaco stations nationwide have run out of fuel, forcing the closure of some pumps. But before you panic, we must explain that there is no shortage of gas in the country. In fact, attendants at Shell and Esso stations were working overtime this weekend, and even today, to meet demand from the motoring public. The Belize Service Station Dealers Association sent out a press release over the weekend apologizing for what it called a “fuel runout.” The Association, in its tersely worded release, said that the circumstances were beyond their control and laid blame for the situation on the petroleum transportation services. But the Belize Petroleum Hauler’s Association would have none of that and this afternoon fired off a press release accusing Texaco of bringing the problem on itself by failing to recognize the legally constituted body charged with recommending licensing of trucks used to carry fuel. Chairman of the Hauler’s Association, Elijio “Joe” Briceño, says as soon as Texaco is ready to negotiate with the association, the problem will be solved.
Elijio Briceño, Chairman, Belize Petroleum Haulers’ Assn.
“At the moment the only gas stations that are having problems with fuel are Texaco’s gas stations, because the Texaco company has refused to meet us as the association which was formed by law and they do not want to negotiate. So the truckers are not prepared to work until we get a contract from Texaco.”
“We are not fighting with the company as you saw here. We are just asking the company to pay us the just prices that government has in a formula and you the consumer are paying for it. We are not asking the government to raise the prices at the pump. The prices will remain the same because the price for transportation is already being calculated in the pump price.”
“Because they have some renegades who are not members of the association, who want all the work for themselves, not considering their fellow truckers who owe for their trucks, that are running the risk of losing their houses because they mortgage their houses to buy these trucks and they are prepared to work for the four and a half cents or whatever Texaco is paying them.”
Briceño says that by law gas companies should be paying haulers seven cents for every gallon of fuel delivered in Belize City and graduated rates depending on distance for delivery to the rest of the country. According to the association, the regulations governing the industry were approved at the end of January. But at the end of a one-month grace period for truckers to get their licenses, those who were not members of the association sought the get quick membership to be able to deliver fuel, but their application is still pending a meeting of the Hauler’s Association. Briceño says the other two gas companies have agreed in principle to pay the fees stipulated by law. Meanwhile, a meeting between the Hauler’s Association, Texaco representatives, and government is scheduled for Tuesday morning in Belmopan. Briceño says that depending on the outcome of the meeting, he is prepared to approve the membership of the Texaco truck drivers immediately so that fuel will start flowing through the company’s pumps once again.
