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Momodou
Denmark
11806 Posts |
 Posted - 12 Mar 2008 : 15:07:59
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Fuel Shortage Hits Basse and Surroundings
By Lamin Fatty
Reports reaching FOROYAA has confirmed that Basse and the surrounding villages have been experiencing shortages of petrol for nearly a week, which is forcing many people to travel to the neighbouring country in order to buy fuel. This reporter went round to all the petrol stations as well as the local petrol dealers in Basse to get their opinion on the alleged petrol scarcity. In an Interview with one Musa Sey Njie, who is said to be a native of Basse and a petrol seller at Alhagie Alieu’s petrol station, he said he does not know the reason for the shortage of petrol but promised that the fuel will be in town before Friday.
When this reporter visited a petrol station of one A1hagie Yaya, he was told that the owner was out at the time of the visit. However, one Momodou Wurry Jallow told this reporter that they, the fuel dealers, are doing every thing possible to remedy the shortage of fuel in Basse and the surroundings. He said that the shortage of petrol is mainly due to the high demand or consumption especially when one looks at the number of motor cycles within the region which he claims is more in the URD than any other region.
While the petrol sellers were being interviewed, this reporter was approached by one Mr. Jaiteh Kaba who said that he had a well digging contract in Tamba Kunda in Senegal but was stranded in Basse for nearly 5 days due to the scarcity of petrol. He said that the local fuel dealers are selling a litre of petrol at D60 and which, according to him, was very exorbitant. This reporter also visited all the fuel stations belonging to Hamidou Jah, a businessman in Basse, but the attendants said they are expecting fuel during these days. They, however, referred this reporter to Hamidou Jah for himself comment on the issue but getting him through his cell phone proved futile.
However, talking to another local fuel dealer in Basse, name withheld, he accused the dealers, who he claimed have made the whole of Basse teeming with petrol stations and yet cannot solve the problem of petrol. He also blamed the Government for discouraging them, the local fuel dealers, when neither the Government nor the fuel dealers could satisfy the fuel needs of the country. He said that the local fuel dealers should in fact be empowered because if there is a fuel shortage the only people who remedy the situation are the local dealers.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issues
Issue No. 30/2008, 12 – 13 March 2008
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