The Editor, Sir:

I saw in yesterday's Gleaner that the Petrojam billing prices for 87 octane fuel is $73.67 per litre. Later in the day, at 11 a.m., after the announced 95 cent reduction, the prices were $87.50 at Shell, $87.70 at Texaco, $87.70 at Esso, and $86.90 at PetCom in Ocho Rios.

I assume that the announced price reductions had not, or were not, going to be applied. These same stations are, however, exceedingly prompt to increase their prices when announced increases take place.

There seems to be no competition regarding fuel prices in Ocho Rios and its environs, unlike Kingston and Montego Bay.

I suggest that drivers coming to the north coast from Kingston either fill up in Kingston, where the price is now around $80 per litre, or in Moneague, where the price is about $4 per litre less than in Ocho Rios.

Consumers need to be protected and the Gasolene Retailers' Association and other entities need to be much more proactive in this matter.

I am, etc.,

JOHN MCFARLANE

Walkerswood,

St Ann

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