By Elisha Harding
Information and Communications Minister, Mohamed Rahman Swaray, has revealed that the SLPP Led Government is not only mindful but also concerned about the fuel crisis which the country is experiencing. He made that statement on the national broadcaster, SLBC on the 28th June 2022.
The Minister informed viewers that even though President Julius Maada Bio was out of the country he has been closely monitoring the situation at home.
He averred how Government is not involved in the transaction of petroleum products but rather provides the congenial and enabling environment to ensure that those products are brought in and marketed by oil marketing companies who should operate according to laid down regulations.
The Information Minister said indeed it is not a good sight to see long queues at fuel stations maintaining how Government has been making certain interventions to put the situation under control.
He revealed how it is not now that Government has started expressing concern in that direction highlighting how a lot of resources have been dished out to ensure that the debilitating effects are cushioned in order to ameliorate the suffering people are undergoing.
Mohamed Rahman Swaray disclosed how during the outbreak of COVID-19, OPEC (the petroleum-producing nations) cut down on fuel production by Ten Million barrels a day, because movements were restricted across the Globe. He further informed that even though COVID-19 is not of high risk as before, OPEC has not been able to get the normal production in place.
The Minister attributed the crisis also to the Russian and Ukraine conflict but assured that as a Government they will do all within their purview to ensure fuel is available.
He disclosed that fuel is still available in the country, stressing that Government does not want fuel to be scarce.
On the same platform, the Chairman of the Motor Drivers Union, Alhaji Amadu Bah, revealed that certain unscrupulous persons are smuggling fuel to neighboring Liberia, stating that the fuel problem is everywhere. He said Government should not be blamed for the current crisis and urged his fellow drivers to be lenient with passengers.
Edmond Abu of the Native Consortium, on his part, stated that Government must ensure that fuel is available across the country stressing that the public is in dire need of it at this material time.
