Petrol station owners’ dispute

Why has there always to be a clash whenever petrol station owners put in a claim for a rise in their profit margin? There is usually little public sympathy for petrol station owners over their claims but if they are correct in their argument that the government has been dragging its feet since 2014, it would surely seem they are justified in reacting strongly, unless, of course, there is another facet to the story that is so far unknown to the public.

Leaving aside the issue as to whether or not the retail price of petrol ought to be lower than the present rate, a long-standing matter that ought to be settled once and for all, and, also, the absurdity of allowing the building of stations in outside development zones, it is difficult to understand why the government is taking so long to deal with the petrol stations owners’ claim.

According to the owners’ union, a study by independent auditors substantiating their claim had been submitted to the government in 2014. The last time the owners had a rise in their profit margin was nine years ago and that would seem to justify their claim. Irritated by the delay in reaching an agreement, the owners are now threatening to strike if the...