President engages the nation
FREETOWN: President Ernest Bai Koroma has called for quick solutions to the problems created by the recent change to the metric system and simultaneous adjustment in the price of fuel.
Addressing Petroleum Marketing Companies, Dealers, the Civil Society and other stakeholders during consultative meeting at State House, the President called for comprehensive solutions to issues adversely impacting on the country’s overall economy and the people.
He observed that although the Government is coping well with the fuel, food and financial crises caused by external factors, there was need to assess official and unofficial reactions to the recent changes and engage stakeholders to finding workable solutions devoid of individual agendas.
Opening the consultative meeting earlier, Information and Communications Minister Alhaji Ibrahim Ben Kargbo invited participants to suggest ways of addressing fuel and other related issues to provide the way forward on all aspects of state administration.
On behalf of Oil Marketing companies, National Petroleum Managing Director Mohamed Cole assured that there are adequate stocks of fuel in the country, adequate metric pumps provided at fuel stations and Independent fuel Dealers are being assisted to calibrate their current pumps for use over a three-month period, followed by permanent replacements.
Representatives of the Independent Dealers requested assistance with both electrical and manual metric pumps, restoration of profit margins and calibration of their pumps by the Standards Bureau throughout the country.
Petroleum Unit Head Dan Mason expressed concern over the delays caused when oil companies to receive and distribute fuel at the same time and suggested advanced deliveries to dealers.
On behalf of Civil Society, Charles Mambu identified the simultaneous implementation of the changes, business factors affecting Dealers, coupled with hoarding and cheating as critical factors in the public reaction.
He therefore suggested a rigid enforcement of the official fuel prices and transport fares and destinations, as well as complementary actions to cushion the prices of basic commodities like rice.
Youth Coalition Chairman Ishmael Al-Sankoh Conteh expressed concern over the recent increases in the price of essential commodities and thanked Government for the transparency in inviting them to discuss the relevant issues.
Consumer Protection Agencies represented by their leaders, Ibrahim Kabia and Bakarr Ruskin Kabbah called for a permanent consultative status, as well as persistent sensitization and education on issues affecting consumers, with their full participation.
They called for empowerment of the Standards Bureau to play its rightful role and finding comprehensive solutions to the problems of
consumers.
Summarizing the discussions, President Koroma observed that it was apparent that stakeholders had been fully engaged in finding solutions to the problems associated with adjustments in the marketing of fuel products and related issues.
He therefore invited stakeholders to participate in the work of a committee dealing with Technical and Business issues and another on Social Welfare, dealing with the knock-on effects like the behavior of Dealers and Transporters, to critically examine the issues and propose holistic solutions for implementation by Government.
President Koroma appealed to stakeholders to be very careful in their work and engage seriously on the relevant issues to find lasting solutions to the country’s perennial problems.
While urging Vice-President Sam Sumana to continue coordinating the consultations among stakeholders to find quick, comprehensive and durable solutions to the country’s problems.
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