Strike fizzles but gas dealers satisfied

As strikes go, it was hardly a classic. Hastily called, poorly observed and ultimately ineffectual, the attempted mass closure by the nation’s forty-four gas stations served only to inconvenience drivers and panic them into pouring their last few dollars into their gas tanks instead of more pressing pursuits. For the record, it appears that all but seven of the nation’s service stations shut down at 6:00 on Tuesday evening; but by 8:30 this morning the dealers association decided to go back to work pending a meeting with Budget Minister Ralph Fonseca at ten-thirty. What the station owners were trying to accomplish is not clear, as government had already acknowledged that the straight forty-five cents per gallon margin on sales was not viable in the light of rapidly rising world prices. A commission had been set up to review the price formula, along with a time table for the implementation of the new system. Still, it was a smiling Nolberto Rancharan who emerged from this morning’s meeting at Central Bank, obviously confident that his point had been made.

Nolberto Rancharan, Pres., Service Station Dealers Assn

“We fell that all parties involved were satisfied and we all left very amicably everybody, companies, the government, and we have formed a working commission and we will continue working with the commission, and we feel that positive things will come out as an industry.”

Question:

“But has the government made a commitment to increase your margin on every gallon of gas?”

Nolberto Rancharan

“Like I said, all parties involved were satisfied, all parties. Details of that will have to come from the Ministry of Finance. But we feel that our cries were answered, we feel that our cries were answered and just the opportunity for them to look at our situation is enough for us. Because then, I think they will look at the numbers and they will see that yes, we are at a disadvantage and they will tend to us. And we have gotten the word, nothing in writing, but it’s a word and we have given the word, we will resume operations, but the word that they will look into the matter and give us what we are due.”

“The Association, which stands united by the way, is satisfied to an extent that yes, we have a working relationship with the government, with the companies and we have established now and eye to eye relationship. Before, it was like one from one and the orders just came from the top and just channel through, but I think now we are eye to eye. Like I said, we are in a position to express our concerns and they have to express their concerns, but we have to come up with a situation that everybody comes out satisfied. We can’t win all battles, nobody can win all battles, but everybody can come out with something.”