Motorists wait patiently, at this Petcom station on Slipe Road in the Corporate Area, to purchase petrol before an $8.75-per-litre tax on fuel is implemented today. - Norman Grindley/Chief Photographer

Despite an apparent rush on some gas stations in the Corporate Area yesterday, Trevor Barnes, president of the Jamaica Gasolene Retailers Association, said he was surprised there was not a general crowding of facilities ahead of today's implementation of an $8.75-fuel tax.

A long line of vehicles stretched up the street at the Petcom station on Slipe Road, which is usually closed on a Sunday, as motorists scrambled to fill their tanks at $54.02 for E10 fuel or $59.20 for 90-octane. There were also lengthy lines at the Total gas station in Cross Roads and Spanish Town Road.

However, representatives at several other stations contacted by The Gleaner said they had experienced no rush on their pumps.

While opening the 2009-2010 Budget Debate in Parliament last week, Audley Shaw, minister of finance and the public service, announced that the Government would be implementing the $8.75-per-litre fuel tax in hopes of reaping $13 billion of $18 billion in revenues from new taxes. Other new taxes, including GCT on some items that were previously exempt, also take effect today.

No major difference

Motorist Shara Johnson did not rush to buy gas yesterday. According to her, the increase in the price of the commodity would not make a major difference for her.

"Gas has moved down from $80 to $50-odd, so the tax that will go on will still not bring it up so high to where it was before, so we will survive," she said.

Diana Harris also did not see the big deal in rushing to the gas station to fill her tank on the weekend.

"The gas will finish at some point and then I will still have to buy gas, so I cannot be bothered," she said. She added that if she had gone to purchase petrol, that would have been her only reason for leaving her home on the weekend.

petrina.francis@gleanerjm.com