Gasoline Shortage Again? —As Citizens, vehicles Queue

By Bill W. Cooper

Despite the assurance made by the Liberian government that there is sufficient gasoline product on the Liberian market, it seems that the various filling stations across Monrovia and its environs are again faced with this Nightmare of gasoline-shortage syndrome, as pedestrians are again in queues to be supplied.
Recently, the government through the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) announced in a press conference through its Minister, Wilson K. Tarpeh that the government had three million gallons of gasoline available for distribution to ease the situation at the time.
However, of recent, it has been observed by our reporter who visited many filling stations that queuing by motorists and other buyers has become the order of the day, thereby causing serious traffic jams in Monrovia and its environs.
According to our reporter, the situation in recent days is said to be causing serious embarrassment for passengers, as kehkeh riders, taxi drivers and motorcyclist are again over charging them due to their time spent at various filling stations for gasoline.
Our reporter added that through his tour of various gas stations, he also witnessed car owners sleeping at various stations, only to purchase the petroleum products allegedly scarce on the Liberian market.
Some stranded gas buyers expressed their frustration for having to spend hours just to get the product.
They said they had to buy from CAN BOYS who then sell to them at exorbitant prices ranging from LD 1000, LD 1100, LD1200 and LD1300 among others.
Jerry Dahn, a taxi driver complained in this manner, “You cannot leave your house at 4: a.m. to buy gasoline and sell it at low cost having paid almost LD1500 and expect yourself to be a loser, and if this government cannot swiftly address the gasoline crisis, I see this country heading for a serious problem.”
A private car owner, Mary Tubeh angrily expressed her frustration in this manner, “What is really going on in this country? Why every time, is one problem from another, as yesterday it was money shortage, today is gasoline shortage and who knows what will it be? I think this government needs to wake up and do something as this country is going from bad to worse.”
This paper also gathered from insiders that petroleum shortage of recent in the country is as the result of the National Port Authority’s (NPA) refusal to dredge the port since it was last dredged during the past regime. According to the source, if the government does not carry on the dredging process, no vessel would dock at the port, and that the country will still encounter the problem on hand.
Meanwhile, the Plenary of the House of Representatives has instituted a Specialized Committee to investigate statement made by two government officials that there was enough gasoline in the country.
Appearing before the Plenary of the House of Representatives yesterday, Commerce Minister, Wilson Tarpeh and Madam Marie Urey Coleman, Managing Director of the Liberia Petroleum and Refinery Corporation-LPRC said, there was enough petroleum product in the country and that there was no need for the public to panic.
After the assertion was made by the government officials, some members of the Plenary expressed regrets over the statement of the government officials.
The majority lawmakers frowned at the statement made by the two officials of government and called on them to clarify their statement in a practical manner.
Most of the lawmakers in Plenary, considered the assertion made by the two government officials as one that has the propensity to prolong the already suffering conditions of the ordinary citizens, most especially, those local business people who use minimum gallons of gasoline and fuel to transact their businesses.
After the argument across the floor, Representative Johnson Gwegolo of Nimba County made a motion for Plenary to institute a Specialized Committee to be headed by Rep. Zoe Pennoh and co-chaired by Rep. Jeremiah Koung of Nimba to investigate what actually was obtaining surrounding the scarcity issue of gas.