According to The Guardian, the rumour that supplies of diesel, premium unleaded and super unleaded gas were “running dangerously low”, began after employees of the organisation took industrial action at the NP plant. This action, according to that media house, resulted in customers “panic buying” over the weekend.
Minister Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan, in a release issued on Saturday, 21st May, 2011, gave the assurance that distribution from NP has continued, having recorded 80 loads leaving the company’s Sea Lots compound by 2:30 pm and with the assurance of a total of over 140 loads by midnight.
“Let me assure citizens of Trinidad and Tobago that there is no shortage of fuel being supplied to the nation’s service stations. Up to 2:30 pm today, over 80 loads of fuel left the NP compound at Sea Lots. These loads are being distributed nationally.”
The Energy Minister added that NP activated its contingency plan to ensure full operations, saying, “NP’s contingency plan has been fully activated and by midnight tonight, the company would have distributed over 140 loads of fuel. In addition, UNIPET trucks have been and will continue to fill from the Bond at Pointe-a-Pierre.”
“The question of a need to panic-buy simply does not arise. The management team at NP is out in full force doing what needs to be done to ensure delivery.”
Asked about reports that Saturday workers were locked out of the company early on Saturday, the minister stated, “On the issue of workers being locked out, I am advised by NP that no such incident took place.”
(Parts of this article were written with content submitted in a Caribbeannewsnow release)