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Momodou
Denmark
11641 Posts |
 Posted - 04 Mar 2023 : 11:29:29
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WHY THE CONTINUED FUEL SUPPLY CRISES?
The government seems to struggle to stabilise the petroleum marketing sector since the significant fuel shortage crisis in late 2021 involving GAMPETROLEUM, the Oil Marketing Companies and other stakeholders in the petroleum industry.
The fuel shortage crises led to accusations and counter-accusations of corruption among the stakeholders. The government brought a lawsuit against the former Gampetroleum Managing Director (Saihou Drammeh) and the Operations Manager (Mr Gassama). The judge acquitted them at the earliest stage of the trials with a no-case submission.
The government and the economic cartel got compromised entirely in the circumstances surrounding the massive corruption affecting the trading and marketing of petroleum, which led to the shortage and destabilisation of the industry.
The latest press release from the government clarifying the Petrol supply situation has proven that instability still exists in the petroleum supply industry and further demonstrates the government's failure to rectify the problems.
WHY’S THE GOVERNMENT HIDING THE TRUTH?
Why does the government think that Gambians are gullible to believe their excuse that the cause of the petroleum shortage is due to a disruption of a single shipment and that the ship scheduled to deliver petrol by the 3rd March 2023 got delayed due to extreme weather conditions at sea?
How come the entire country relied on a single shipment? What happens to the stockpile reserves at GAMPETROLEUM? The government press statement is a fabrication, a coverup of the massive economic plundering the state is engaged in with the financial cartel. The continued petroleum shortage proves that the state didn’t handle the initial GAMPETROLEUM saga properly, as the president is complicit in the grand corruption harming the industry and causing a substantial economic loss to the state.
What is the cost of the damages to our economy by importing petroleum products from overland in Senegal, including loss of tax revenues by issuing companies with duty Wavers?
What’s the government hiding from the public?
Another worry is how we are losing another strategic advantage to our competitors by continuing to import fuel from Senegal when we used to export petroleum products to Mali and Guinea Bissau.
Here is a pattern since Barrow went to bed with the Economic cartel and his Senegalese handlers, the Gambia has been losing its competitive business edge to Senegal due to corruption and implementing lousy economic policies intentionally or unintentionally in favour of Senegal.
It started with the liquidation of Banjul Breweries, a leading regional beverage manufacturing company, for over forty years. Followed by the collapse of our port authority and AirPort's economic infrastructure, which led to a decline in the transit trade and Tourism, the other two main financial contributors to our gross domestic product. The latest becomes the petroleum industry which is the engine of our economy. We aren’t factoring in the failure of exploring our Gas and Oil reserves Adjacent to all the Senegalese prospects.
Moral citizens get polarised on partisan issues or selfishly ignore the threats to our national interest. The ARPC enablers are entrenching dictatorship. The economic cartel’s complicity is helping Barrow loot our resources, wittingly or unwittingly serving the Senegalese government's objectives to completely dominate the economy and force us into losing our sovereignty!
If you are still reading this, you must have found it interesting, and please visit the Facebook Page “Open Gambia” Gambian Platform for National Dialogue. Like, follow and share our stories.
Article contributed by SULAYMAN BEN SUWAREH @04/03/2023!
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11641 Posts |
Posted - 04 Mar 2023 : 11:32:30
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Gov’t clarifies petrol supply situation
Mar 3, 2023
Press Release
https://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/headlines/govt-clarifies-petrol-supply-situation
In the wake of numerous complaints from commuters and motorists over fuel supply, The Gambia Government wishes to clarify that the ship scheduled to deliver petrol by the 3rd March, 2023 is delayed due to extreme weather conditions at sea.
Upon verification of this unfortunate natural circumstance affecting the vessel, His Excellency President Adama Barrow immediately instructed the Petroleum and Finance Ministries to alternatively replenish the current low domestic stock through overland importation from neighbouring countries.
Subsequently, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs (MOFEA) granted concessions to Oryx, Jah Oil and three other licensed importers to swiftly source petrol from Senegal. Jah Oil has particularly secured 1.5 million litres of petrol to be delivered within the next 24 hours.
Therefore, the limited sale of petrol by Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) across various fuel stations nationwide is a tentative measure of ensuring steady supply parallel to the overland delivery of additional gasoline.
Strategically, The Gambia Government has liberalized the petroleum sector and granted some 50 import licences to private investors while maintaining diligent regulatory oversight. It subsidises fuel and ensures price stability at the retail pumps in the country.
2 March 2023
Banjul, The Gambia
Signed
Prince Bubacarr Aminata Sankanu
Deputy Government Spokesperson |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11641 Posts |
Posted - 05 Mar 2023 : 18:29:36
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AN INSIDER OF THE PETROLEUM INDUSTRY TAKES THE GOVERNMENT AND THE ECONOMIC CARTEL TO TASK!
In 2021, a similar dynamic took hold that led to the shortage of diesel gasoline. It’s worth noting this mysterious letter is intended to manipulate the Public. This late-developing “ weather “ claim is complicated to take seriously, but there’s more to the story.
Of course, this petrol shortage yet again exacerbates a deliberate problem created by this Government’s persistence on egregious policies to favour and protect a group of individuals. The Shortage of petroleum products has been happening at Gampetroleum since 2021; it’s kept under the carpet. It became evident during Pura Director Mr Ceesay’s cross-examination during the GP trial. They are now clearly frightened to speak the truth and levelled criticisms of the Finance Minister behind closed doors.
President Barrow once said: “ You cannot keep doing the same thing and expect different results “. I paraphrase: “Repeating the same mistake and expecting a different result”. Hence in the petroleum industry, having authority and a novice Management in charge of a strategy industry without the policy depth, deep knowledge, expertise, and business network connections with oil traders won’t work.
If the current situation holds, there’s no way around this situation. It will be part of the norm because Gambians don’t quest for anything. For example, A Health department official misled the public that “massive rain might have caused the death of over 70 babies, instead of the Indian syrup “. Serious Nations took that case seriously.
Practically, the Finance Ministry’s irrational petroleum policies continue on a redound course, and Gampetroleum yet still remains in a relatively weak position. The Minister, who emerged unscathed due to his past actions, can’t help himself — indulging in bizarre and unnecessary controversies. He was ready to prosecute a case in 2021 and launched a media campaign on certain online outlets. Yet now, the disinclination isn’t in his interest. Why? Because his buddies are in-charge.
By the way, If you want to understand the issue better, let’s take a step back on events leading to the 2021 elections. Indeed, people across the political spectrum were practically crying out against the high cost of living. The then Trade Minister’s self-deterrence in influencing the oil pricing structure against a group of experts' advice — just before the 2021 elections had a disastrous effect.
That policy viscerally affected traders and the stock reserves tremendously at Gampetroleum. Not surprisingly, a coalition of OMC sent a formal letter to complain about the new pricing structure introduced by Seedy Keita. The state ignores their pleas. Instead, they got castigated as greedy criminals.
According to court documents, the vessel named “MT Heights”, which was en route to Banjul from Dakar, got cancelled at the last minute. The cartel influenced that decision. The Depot supervisor, Mr Touray, confirmed during the GP trial.
Legally speaking, a golden opportunity emerged for the economic cartel swirling around Gampetroleum in their various encampments. The group had always eyed the staggering profits and dividends paid to GP shared holders. They wanted it all.
Emboldened Seedy Keita — voluntarily embraced and championed the economic cartel group's wishes of taking over the petroleum industry.
For instance, the decision was made by the group to place a burden of such magnitude on only two people. He was unconcerned with truth and was on the central front to selectively prosecute Saihou DRAMMEH and Gassama. That is just reality, like it or not. The trumped-up charges failed miserably at the High Court.
Meanwhile, Seedy Keita and his task force group mislead the Country. What happened was captured at the High Court — as the government watched all their witnesses fail miserably.
However, a more significant issue is at stake here, which is why the trend line in the petroleum industry has not headed in a favourable direction. It is a system now dependent on ruthless corruption.
The proof is written on clearly for everyone to see. Gampetroleum Conservatives made over profits of D300 million dalasis yearly during Mr DRAMMEH and Mr Mangjang’s chairmanship era. Now they are yet to report anything. The restructuring of GP was never meant for a rehabilitative or restorative purpose but to only benefit Economic Cartel’s pockets.
Unfortunately, the government is now trapped by the failed policies championed by its Finance Minister. Their exclusions should include ending arguably dumb things that hurt our people and economy.
If you are still reading this, you must have found it interesting, and please visit the Facebook Page “Open Gambia” Gambian Platform for National Dialogue. Like, follow and share our stories.
Article contributed by PETROLEUM INDUSTRY INSIDER 05/03/2023!
Source: Open Gambia |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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WHY THE CONTINUED FUEL SUPPLY CRISES?
