Gas station owners across the country, especially the ones without convenience stores, are on the verge of closing their doors and handing back their stations to NP (T&T National Petroleum Marketing Company).
The increased cost of 0.9 per cent Green Fund and Business Levy imposed by the Minister of Finance on these petroleum dealers is harsh and unjust as their income is based on a fixed rate of 17 cents per litre on super and premium gasoline and 15 cents per litre for diesel. It has been so for as long as anyone can remember.
After the dealers pay their expenses for salaries of their pump attendants, maintenance staff, electricity bills, telephone bills, the price of fuel to NP etc, many do not even have enough to pay themselves a salary of $5,000 per month. Some are operating at a loss every month and their expenses are mounting.
Unless their margins are increased to 19 cents per litre across the board now, several more stations would be closing soon, putting more pressure on many workers and their families. This will put further strain on working men and women that depend on the industry for their survival. It will also create inconvenience to the motoring public.
Their voices so far have fallen on deaf ears at the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Finance and its up to these ministries to bring the dealers' plight to Cabinet and accept or reject this sincere cry for help now before it's too late.
Neil Gosine