GAS SHORTAGES HIT

By Landing Badjie, Banjul

The spectra of perennial fuel shortages is once again threatening to rear its ugly head in The Gambia as the country's population continues to grapple with soaring food prices.

Filling stations in the Gambia's capital Banjul and one of the country's most populous municipality, KMC, are virtually inundated with vehicles as the population gears up for yet another fuel dearth.

The looming Diesel crisis could pose massive locomotion problems and thus make life  unbearable for a large chunk of the population that depend on commuter vehicles as their means of transport.

There is also a widespread fear that fares may increase in the wake of the impending fuel shortage as well as the recent increase in pump prices of Super Diesel, Gas Oil and Kerosene.

" I've been on the queue for two hours now without any end in sight to my nightmare. I'm here to get fuel because nobody can predict the developments in the coming days vis-a-vis Diesel," said Karamo Kuyateh, a vehicle owner.

The speculations about an imminent fuel crisis in The Gambia has already heightened fears of possible hoarding of Diesel in days ahead. At the time of filing this story, long queues could be found in various gas stations around town. Filling stations are working hard to meet the growing demands for the essential commodity.

" We are doing our best to make sure everyone has something for his/her vehicle. It's a difficult situation but we're trying hard to cope," a pump attendant told our man in Banjul.

Rise in fuel prices is one of many increases in essential commodities in the poor, West African state. Prices of rice-Gambia's staple food- recently rose from D700 to D850 whilst prices of other essential goods gallop.

Government says the increases in prices are dictated by 'rising' world food prices and the Gambian President has made it clear that it will not bother him even if the price of rice goes well beyond D1000 because, in his words, Gambian men are lazy and unwilling to heed his calls for Gambians to go back to the land.

Whatever the case may be, the man in the street is suffering and would like some respite.