Political leader of the United Workers Party (UWP), Dr Thomson Fontaine is laying the blame for the current gas shortage in Dominica at the feet of prime minister Roosevelt Skerrit.
Describing the matter as a “crisis” Fontaine said Skerrit has refused to negotiate with Rubis, which supplies 52 percent of gasoline to Dominica and he believes that the prime minister does not know how the oil market operates.
“Let us not be in any doubt that we have a gas crisis in Dominica on the eve of Christmas because the prime minister of Dominica Honorable Roosevelt Skerrit refused to negotiate in good faith with Rubis,” he said while speaking to talk show host, Matt Peltier on Thursday. “In fact, he told them that they could leave if they wanted, that no one was going to hold a gun to his head and that if they left he would in fact come in to take up the slack.”
However, he said, the prime minister has not been able to take up the slack promised, “and by failing to do this we are in the situation that we are in right now.”
For the second time within weeks the island is facing an acute gasoline shortage which has caused traffic jams, frayed nerves and fears that Christmas, which is days away, will not be a bright one.
The government has blamed the current situation on rough seas and said shipments of gasoline were expected on the island on December 22, 25 and 27.
Fontaine different government ministers have been assuring Dominicans that everything is OK but that is not the case.
“The government is OK,” he stated. “The government and its people, they are OK because they have Petrocaribe to fall back on but for the average Dominican without that access, who relies on gas provided by West Indies Oil and National Petroleum, they simply do not have that luxury. So we are in this very serious situation now where people’s Christmas are virtually ruined.”
Fontaine is of the opinion that Skerrit doesn’t understand how the oil market works.
“The oil market is not a market like other goods and services where you just can put in an order today and you get the goods because people produce in advance,” he explained. “That’s not the way the oil market works. Typically, you supply oil based upon the demand because these oils have to be refined and then provided. That is usually done on demand. And you just cannot divert oil, for example if oil is targeted for St Kitts or for Barbados, you just cannot divert his oil to Dominica. Everything is sequenced. The oil market is a specialized market and it is clear this has not been understood by the prime minister. So he thought he can just go on the open market and buy oil. That does not happen.”
He said these factors have led to the current situation in Dominica and he is concerned that it is not going to end soon.
“It is true that the situation was made worse by the non-arrival of the boat a few days ago but if that boat were to arrive, then within two to three weeks you would have the same problem,” Fontaine said. “So we are going to have this problem recurring. It will happen if the boat comes in December, it will happen again in January. If it comes in January, we going to have this problem again in February. This is going to be a recurring problem until the situation of the supply of gasoline into Dominica is tackled and part of that has to involve renegotiating with Rubis and getting things back on track.”
On Thursday, Skerrit announced that his government will increase the storage capacity of gasoline at Petrocaribe and enter an agreement with a regional supplier of gasoline to a have national reserve in case there are problems in bringing fuel to the island.
He did not name the supplier, nor did he give a timeline as to when the storage capacity will be ready and when the national reserve will come into effect.
The vessel transporting fuel to Dominica arrived in port this morning. It is expected that gasoline will be available at the pumps from this afternoon.
“However, he said, the prime minister has not been able to take up the slack promised, “and by failing to do this we are in the situation that we are in right now.”
First of all, anybody without an oil well, or are in the business of refining and selling of crude oil making a statement such as he would or will take up the slack must be a fool!
Dominica is filled with potential for all sorts of development; nevertheless, Roosevelt is the obstacle in the country’s potential; he is so into himself believing he is so damn smart, when he is shallow!
The man is ignorant of how uneducated he is and because of that he does not have the ability to communicate and negotiate with the higher more educated minds he encounters: simple saying “I am prime minister of Dominica does not give negotiating skills and reason.
He believes he is so love, that companies will bow to his ignorant wish: It is not the foreign company holding a gun to Roosevelt head, he has the gun in his hands!
What did Fontaine do for four years in Sudan? Nothing. The economy is stii in shambles, more impoverished people and refugees in Sudan looking to come to Dominica if Skerrit allows them to. Fontaine is just like ugly Lenny – a waste of time. Go take care of your health for 2023, Francisco.
Fontaine, all of those long messages are delivering nothing!
You are singing the same old song of blaming the Primes Minister for everything that is problematic in the country. Which country in the World have you ever heard of Life being perfect there? Gas shortage is a problem everywhere, not only in Dominica.
The lack of godly confidence in people’s mind is what’s causing them to be so fearful, the reason they are rushing here and there to feel certain that they are secure with this, that, and the other thing.
And guys like you have no kind of education or consolation to share with them, except to add more worries to their mind with you all’s foolish blame game, which is not working and it will never work. So give it up!
You do not know what you are talking about you Canadian Hypo. Get out of here, MASH!
What’s in Skeritt’s Belly? Could their be a Bank inside there?
Everyone is looking out for its own interests: the gas supplier for higher profits; the government for lower prices to its voters; the opposition party to score political points that will help them get elected; and the consumers for affordable prices and reliable supply of fuel. Between all of these positions, the true story may get lost.
Liar the Election fever have you going FOU. Go back South Sudan thats where you belong. You’re too RUDE. Respect our PM, he is ALWAYS here with us in good and BAD times. Sacré SERPENT turn your self here and there CUZ THE REAL TRUTH IS we VOTE LABOUR PARTY ALL THE WAY.
Papa Dominica is going down slowly!
West Indies Oil co. Ltd is 51 % owned by the Govt.of Antigua & Barbuda, which acquired the company from National Petroleum in 2015. PDVSA, the state oil company of Venezuela own 25% and the owners of the remaining 24% are Fancy Bridge Ltd. from China.
The stated vision of West Indies Oil is :”To be the premier oil storage and petroleum products provider in Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica and the rest of the Eastern Caribbean”.
An independent competitor registered by the government of Dominica, could be problematic.
According to the traffic department there are more than 37,000 registered vehicles in Dominica.Rubis stopped selling petrol to customers on September 15th 2022,more than 3 months ago,and Dominica did not have a petrol problem untill 1 week ago.According to Rubis they were selling petrol at their petrol stations from another petrol company.Every smart person know the problem is storage not Rubis.It is clear,if the petrol boat was not delayed we would not have a petrol problem.
Corruption destroys. The Serpent (Roosevelt) is still in power today not for his competence and brilliant performance, but solely due to corruption.
This dimwit reminds of a sole pilot of an aircraft loaded with 60+ k passengers having no pilot licence, and flying the plane into a hillside. The only possible consequence is a fiery ball of fire. That’s exactly where Dominica is destined with this morally depraved and eminently unqualified pilot.
Could you imagine a prime minister holding on to power in any other jurisdiction after chasing two of the most important business entities, ROSS & Rubisout the country?
Only in Dominica where mediocrity is rewarded and excellence is frowned on.
You still have not accepted it MalParlay IBO!!!!!!!!! Smoke it in your Pipe…Roosevelt is the PM… He rules. Talk is cheap old man……He is in control!!! LEARN HOW TO CURTSY!!!!! to PM. So funny.. You dogged him so much all you did was hurt to Tourism in Dominica. Life and Death is in the Power of the Tongue….It is time to choose Life IBO.
Soon there will be a shortage of sex in Dominica, blame Skerrit. Then we might have a shortage of sea water in the sea, blame Skerrit. Not too many night hours for sleep, blame Skerrit. Dogs bark too much, blame Skerrit.
You writing utter nonsense on a daily basis… I BLAME SKERRIT. Otherwise why would you bore us to death with your verbal diarrhoea? Now get out of here. Mash!
Look at how de year ending 2 weeks after a snap general election to reset de dynamic team!!!!!!!
Hahaha
Thank you Dr. Fontaine
I agree with Dr. Fontaine. Until the structural problems are resolved we will see recurring shortages of gasoline in Dominica.
He could not solve the problems of Sudan, now he comes to Dominica practicing the same sh.. that ugly Lenny did.
You are like a broken record! Nothing of any substance to contribute. What could one expect of a mere toilet cleaner for the white man. What do YOU know of Sudans problems and Fontaine job? Let’s have it… what’s your understanding of the job he held?
Of course the blame is 100% that of this wickedly lying Prime Minister..He run things in all ministeries, he is patently responsible…Remember this MISLEADER is not just a showman, but a LIAR to the core..
What he is believing is that ALL Dominicans are red trumpet blowers, and noone knows about his trickery and deception..
What an embarrassment to have a LIAR like that heading a government!!
Only in Dominica!!
Thompson is 110% right. Of course, Skerrit doesn’t understand the petroleum market. But unfortunately this isn’t the only thing Mister doesn’t understand. Dominica, as a result, suffers severely.
Whatever!!! Blame shifting. We are doing nothing with our mouths by destroying Dominica. People will refuse to come there. PM is already settled. College funds has established for his kids…. You hurting the future generations. Just speaking GUILE
How about starting to account for missing CBI funds and an explanation as to why Venezuela had to write off USD100 million. What did they use that money for?? We need some explanation. Silence doesn’t cut it anymore.
So letting Skerrit crap all over us and remaining docile will get us the respect of the outside world then? Man, I have been waiting now for more than twenty years and all I get is disrespect and mwpwi from Master Skerrit.
That is exactly what happened. They did not negotiate with Rubis and then had no plans to replace them. Not that any company would want to trade in dca where they’re dependant on effective decision making by our govt. Rubis told them so long and they didn’t even know Rubis had exited the market. By the time they check they don’t know what to do. Rubis called their bluff. Which company can continue to make losses year after year and stay and take more? Please