St Vincent company blames Trinidad for fuel shortage

Labour disputes in Trinidad and Tobago have been blamed for a fuel shortage in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

"SOL wishes to notify its customers of a shortage in gasolene and diesel supply, due to labour disputes at Petrotrin in Trinidad, the primary supplier of petroleum products to oil companies in the region," the petroleum company said in a statement on Monday.

"In addition to St Vincent and the Grenadines, other countries across the region have also been impacted."

SOL Limited said that it was working with the state-owned oil company in Trinidad to ensure a ready supply of products as soon as possible.

Labour unions, including those representing workers in the energy sector, have been embarking upon industrial action to force the Trinidad and Tobago government to increase its five per cent wage increase to workers in the public sector.

Motorists have had to queue for long hours at several gas stations across St Vincent for petrol even though the other local supplier, which does not use products from Trinidad, said it had "a very regular supplier" of fuel.

"It is just that we have an increase in sales and, like any other place that has an increase in sales, you run out and we have already taken fuel to our gas stations," said an employee of the company, who did not want to be identified by name.