The following is culled from FRROYAA BURNING NO: 88/2002 30 December 2002-
1 January, 2003
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Editorial

Is The Fuel Crisis Over ?

The Secretary of State for Finance indicated in his budget speech that
petroleum prices would be increased as follows:

Petrol from 10.50 to 15.00 dalsis; Diesel from 9.50 dalasis to 12 dalasis
and Keresone/jet 5.50 dalasis to 7 dalasis.

The government issued another press release to indicate that enough fuel has
been imported to prevent future shortages. It was added that government will
leave the companies to be in charge of the importation of fuel; that
government will simply come up with a law to regulate the fuel sector.

One expected that after the announcement there will be no queue for petrol
or empty petrol stations. Unfortunately, cars still pass many petrol
stations without driving in to purchase petrol because of the unwritten
warning "No petrol for sale".

Something is wrong somewhere. The government should not issue any press
release without reaching concrete agreement with the companies trading in
fuel.

The government should accept and make known the policies it has agreed with
the IMF and World Bank regarding the liberalisation of the trade. It should
not pretend to be in control of what it has no control over. It should come
out boldly and tell the people it has adopted policies, which makes it
impossible for it to have any control over prices. There is no need to
pretend that it wants to control prices while the private sector is engaged
in a conspiracy to increase prices. The government cannot preach that the
private sector is the engine of growth and then accuse them of trying to
wreck the country by increasing prices. This only breed more uncertainty.
The government should tell the people the solution it has for the present
state of the economy and stop putting the blame on foreigners or lack of
patriotism.

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Source: FOROYAA (Freedom) NO: 88/2002 30 December 2002- 1 January, 2003
ISSN: 0796- 08573
Address: FOROYAA, P.O.Box 2306, Serrekunda, The Gambia, West Africa
Telephone: (220) 393177  Fax: (220) 393177
Email address: [log in to unmask]
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