Defense Minister Erol Joseph did not fail to castigate members of the private business sector in the persistence of the fictitious petroleum crisis in the country.
During a meeting of the members of the Superior Council of the National Police in the official residence of the Prime Minister in Musseau, in Pétion-ville, Mr. Joseph mentioned a special plan drawn up by the authorities to allow tankers to distribute fuel safely.
From 77 carriers were expected on Monday at the premises of the National Company of Industrial Parks (SONAPI), on the road to Toussaint Louverture International Airport to take part in a gasoline delivery operation, only one had shown up on site. All the others were conspicuous by their absence, the minister fulminated. Worse, he said, the driver present refused to offer his services, arguing that he had not been authorized by his superviser.
For the Minister of Defense, there is no doubt that local players are taking advantage of the situation to make their own. “Carriers have not respected their commitments made with the government as part of the plan concocted to facilitate the distribution of gasoline on the local market,” he said again.
Erol Joseph also informed that 30 tankers filled with gasoline destined for the Greater South, were deliberately diverted by carriers who had sold it on the black market.
For his part, the Director General of the National Police, Frantz Elbé, did not want to take any responsibility for the continuing fuel crisis, indicating that he had set up a security corridor to facilitate the distribution of petroleum products.
However, the DG of the PNH said that the carriers preferred to transit other products within the framework of this contingency plan. Construction materials and food products are taken out of stocks instead of fuel, deplored Frantz Elbé adding that the role of the PNH is to secure the convoys and not to control what products are being transported.
Ad interim Director of the PNH indicated that the initial security plan has been reassessed to concentrate all efforts on the Varreux terminal.
According to him, solutions to the security crisis will be staggered over the short, medium and long term, declaring that politicians and actors must play their part in the fight against gang violence.
He also praised the good spirit of the police which seems to be good after tours in several police stations to comfort them.