By: Mohamed Jalloh
The Ministry of Trade and Industry has informed the general public that government has met with the leadership of the Sierra Leone Petroleum Dealers and Transporters Union (SLPDTU) on the, 28th March, 2022 in the Ministry’s Conference Room.
Both parties discussed the ongoing crisis in the distribution and sale of petroleum products and agreed on the following terms of understanding.
That there is adequate stock of petroleum products in the Country and there is no imminent increase in the prices of petroleum products and no need for panic buying by the Public.
The government further noted concerns rose by the SLPTDU and expressed commitment to addressing them as soon as possible and dealers were also urged to resume the sale of petroleum products with immediate effect.
“The Public is assured of Government’s commitment to ensure the sustained availability of petroleum products in the domestic market, in spite of current global challenges affecting the Petroleum Industry”, the release stated.
It should be noted that on the 28th March 2022, there were incidents of chaos and unrest in some parts of Freetown as commercial transportation owners/drivers (including vehicles and bike riders) staged a sit down strike.
The reason for the strike is due to a suspected hoarding of petroleum products by fuel station owners and a palpable fear of corresponding increase in fuel prices.
