Paulwell
Leonardo Blair, Staff Reporter
PHILLIP PAULWELL, minister of commerce, science and techno-logy on Wednesday called for an end to the problems brewing between petroleum marketing organisations and gasolene retailers.
"I think it is a very critical sector in the economy and we need to try and get rid of the animosity," Minister Paulwell told The Gleaner. "There is in fact a code of conduct that the FTC (Fair Trading Commission) has implemented and that is not voluntary."
Mr. Paulwell, who was scheduled to meet with industry players yesterday evening, pointed out that he was not pleased with what was happening and noted his intent to 'air' his dissatisfaction.
A recent release from the energy committee of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) said that a Code of Conduct for the local gasolene trade had not been finalised.
CODE OF CONDUCT
Mr. Paulwell, however, explained that the code of conduct, designed by the Fair Trading Commission, is legally binding and that players in the gasolene trade have no choice but to abide by its principles. The only way they can get out of the FTC agreement is to amicably broker another agreement that is mutually beneficial, he noted.
"We had been working on getting both sides to sign a voluntary code of conduct and if it is achieved I would suggest that it supersede the one drafted by the FTC," Mr. Paulwell added.
Trevor Heaven, president of the Jamaica Gasolene Retailers' Association (JGRA) explained yesterday that the actions of the marketing companies have created much confusion in the sector. "They have shown no movement to adopt any of the terms of the code. We have increased wages to our workers and we have paid them retroactively and we are still no better off than we were before," he said.
Mr. Heaven explained that if the marketing companies fail to accept the code of conduct, they will be forced to seek legislation on the matter.
The code of conduct for gasolene retailers and marketing companies took effect Monday, December 20, 2004 without the two groups signing on to the provisions which have been established by the Fair Trading Commission (FTC).
Minister Paulwell had told journalists then that adherence to the code of conduct will be strictly monitored by the FTC.
