The fear that lingers below the surface

Aug 26, 2013 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

A few weeks ago, for one day, there was a shortage of petrol in Guyana. This time there was no panic nor was there a situation whereby persons began to stockpile their personal stocks of petrol in anticipation of a shortage.
However there were persons, especially the older generation, who felt a throwback to a previous era when Guyana was so broke that there were long lines stretching for miles. Motorists had to line up for days for a tank of gas.
They had to sleep in their vehicles. This went on for a long time and hire care drivers would line up for gas, full their tanks and then drain out some and keep it in their garages and join back another line just so that they would have enough gas to do what was absolutely necessary.
In those days on the long petrol lines, persons with private cars would travel only if it was absolutely necessary. The subsequent generations never knew about those days and therefore when a few weeks back the stations were closed for day, persons did not panic.
It was explained later that the temporary disruptions in supply was due to the late arrival of ships from exporters.
Despite the fact that the situation was quickly normalized there needs to be an investigation as to why this situation developed.
A country should always have sufficient reserve stocks to cater for delays in the arrival of petrol boats. And after the traumatic days of the fuel shortages of the last days of the PNC regime, steps were taken to ensure that adequate stocks would always be available to avoid shortages.
It was therefore surprising to learn that for one day a few weeks ago, there was no fuel at certain pumps, not because there was no money to import fuel but because the petrol vessels from overseas were late.
There needs to be an immediate investigation as to the level of stocks that are held and why this situation developed.
Something like this should never have happened and explanations are needed as to the monitoring mechanisms that are in place to ensure that there are no shortages, if indeed the reasons provided were the main reasons for the shortages.
It is interesting that just after this one day shortage, there was a little spike in the prices at the pump. The public therefore needs to be assured that indeed the one –day shortage was attributable to shipping delays.
If problems with the fuel shipping lines were the real cause of the delays, then there needs to be an explanation as to how the level of stocks were allowed to deteriorate to the level where the pumps were out of petrol for one day.
The entire transportation system could have ground to a halt had the vessels been further delayed and this would have led to great economic losses, apart from tremendous hardships. If the shortage had been protracted the situation could have gotten out of control.
It is therefore hoped that there will be some form of investigation into what went wrong and resulting out of this exercise a plan will be developed to ensure that the situation does not happen again.
Guyanese do not wish to return to the days when drivers had to sleep sometimes two nights in long snaking petrol lines. Guyanese do not wish to return to the days when petrol had to be hoarded at home because drivers could not afford to spend four days out of seven in petrol lines.
Those days are behind us but the fear of returning to such a traumatic era still lingers below the surface.

Latest News

The fear that lingers below the surface

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| February, 14th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Guyana boys team selected for 2025 PAHF Jr Challenge

Mainstay Goldstar FC receives NSC support ahead...

Lusignan Golf Club Announces the 2025 Ansa McAL...

Guyana U-20 Women’s squad arrives in Antigua...

GCB saddened at the passing of former GCB...

BCB strengthens Executive body as moves made to...

Features/Columnists

A flawed interpretation of international law

CARICOM Nations Should Respond Together To new U.S. Policies

Dissecting, dissembling, clearing up covering up

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]

The fear that lingers below the surface

Share this:

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| February, 14th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]