-Gas sold for up to LD$1,400 in Central Liberia
By Emmanuel Mafelah,mafelahemmanuel29@gmail.com
GBARNGA, Liberia-Despite Liberian officials’ insistence that enough petrol is in the country, the reality on the ground in Monrovia and other parts of the country reveals the opposite, as longer queues continue to be formed at filling stations that have the products.
Total and other filling stations who are pumping the gasoline to the public are selling it at the official stipulated price of little of six hundred Liberian dollars, but elsewhere, the price of this commodity (if one is lucky to get it) has skyrocketed.
Over the weekend in Monrovia, some motorists and others, who managed to buy petrol, said they paid up to one thousand LD while others beyond this amount in the Paynesville and other suburbs of the Liberian capital, Monrovia.
The scarcity of gasoline at several filling stations in Gbarnga is raising concern over the availability of the petroleum product on the Liberian market.
This is also impacting the price of gasoline across the county, leaving consumers to queue at filling stations where gasoline is available.
The apparent artificial scarcity being created by some retailers is generating grave concerns from many consumers and at the same time impacting the price.
A gallon of gasoline in Liberia’s central city, Gbarnga and its environs was being sold for between LD$1400.00 and LD$1450.00 on Sunday January 26, 2020, our www.newspublictrust.com Correspondent says.
Consequently, the transportation fare has gone up high with most motorcyclist, taxicab and transport buses blaming the situation on the increase in the price of the product much to the dismay of commuters.
For instance, taxi fare from Gbarnga to Nimba is now between LD$500 to LD$600, and transportation fare from Gbarnga to Monrovia has increased from LD$1,000 to LD$1,200.
TOTAL filling Station on the Gbarnga Broad Street was very busy on Sunday January 26 when dozens of vehicles lined to purchase gasoline.
“We have been busy all day. Most of the filling stations around us are out of gasoline.”
“Our price remains the same and we have not run out of product,” a sales agent told this news outlet.
Gasoline is being sold at TOTAL for LD$650.
Meanwhile, several residents across Gbarnga and its environs have expressed frustration over the hick in the price of the gasoline and called on the government to intervene as they continue to feel the pinch of the situation.
“This is insane. We can’t continue to live in a country as though there is no law and order. I believe there are people responsible for this.”
“And just as the Commerce Ministry punished the other people (Fuani Brothers), that’s how they should investigate and fine those that responsible for this act,” said Washington Browne, a motorcyclist in Gbarnga.
“Cyclist Browne added: “The traffic is hard on us because gas price has gone up high. To get something at the end of the day, we must increase the fare. And when we do that, our customers will not understand and will often fuss with us.”
“In every economy there are unscrupulous people that want to maximize profits. This Weah-ed government through the Ministry of Commerce needs to something. “
Meanwhile, reports from Buchanan, Grand Bassa County over the weekend said commercial drivers and motorcycle taxi operations have threatened to protest against the hike in price of petrol if nothing is done by authorities soon to ease the hardship.