Limited activity at oil refinery, BOJ
Published:Thursday | May 27, 2010 | 12:00 AM
The upheaval in west Kingston brought the delivery of gasolene and other petroleum products to a halt Tuesday, but a day later, some tanker drivers began showing up to fill their tanks, according to Gleaner checks.
The Bank of Jamaica also announced that it was open for business but would provide "essential services" only.
Petrojam Limited, the state-owned monopoly refinery, is located on Marcus Garvey Drive in close proximity to Tivoli Gardens, the epicentre of the battle between the armed forces and followers of strongman Christopher 'Dudus' Coke.
The frequency and ferocity of gun battles were somewhat abated Wednesday but, with Coke still being sought on an extradition warrant, there is yet no indication when the situation will normalise.
The refinery, like many businesses in downtown Kingston and its environs, was shuttered up to Tuesday.
Hilary Alexander, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Mining and Energy, said the ministry was monitoring the situation.
"At this point in time, we are just monitoring the situation to see what can be done," she said, noting that the security arrangements were considered sensitive and would not be discussed publicly.
Trevor Barnes, president of the Jamaica Gasolene Retailers Association, said the refinery was closed Tuesday and that no fuel was distributed.
"With what is happening, I don't think they would want to open," he said at the time. But yesterday, a small number of tanker drivers who haul gasolene for the marketing companies from the refinery to pumps made their way to the Marcus Garvey plant for supplies.
Barnes said that he had had no reports of anyone running short of supplies, noting that fewer consumers were buying at the pumps.
Kingston is currently under a limited state of emergency. Amid the gun battles, businesses have shuttered their operations in the core of the city and residents are urged to be off the streets by nightfall.
"Most people are taking the precaution of closing for today to see how the situation unfolds," Milton Samuda, president of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce, said Tuesday.
Samuda added that while his members were not happy with the impact that the unrest is having on business, they recognise that the security forces will have to restore order.
"People realise that what is at stake is greater and that the security forces have to complete the mission that they have started in west Kingston," he said.