Illegal gas stations thrive in Jamaica

Klao Bell, Staff Reporter

ILLEGAL gas stations are doing thriving business across the island, posing a threat to the lives of scores of people.

However, although the locations of many of the illegal depots are known to the police, they claim it is difficult to put an end to the operations.

The police said attempts to stop the illegal trade have been frustrated by lack of equipment and the rapid rate at which the sites re-open after being shut down. The Hunts Bay police said they are aware of illegal operations in the communities of Greenwich Town, Maxfield Park, Whitfield Town, Spanish Town Road and Beechwood Avenue, all in the Corporate Area, but are frustrated in their attempts to stop gas sales there.

"We continue to arrest and lock down and they continue to open and re-open," said a senior police officer with the Hunts Bay police station, who is closely involved in the investigations, but did not want to be named in this story. "In fact, more are springing up now."

The officer stated that six people have been arrested, three stations shut down and more than 100 barrels of petrol seized since 1998.

There have been fires at three illegal gas stations operated since January. One person has died, two others injured and several houses destroyed. The latest incident occurred last Sunday in Trelawny, where 19-year-old Camika Campbell was burnt to death. Deputy Superintendent Robert Clayton, chief of the fire service in Trelawny, was quoted as saying that that fire was caused by the illegal and dangerous practice.

"Persons are taking it upon themselves to sell petroleum without licence and without adhering to the necessary safety standards," he said, describing the illegal stations as "deadly."

The police explained that the trade has been fuelled by quick profits and, up to recently, light penalties for illegal gas vendors.

"The trouble is that the fines were rather minuscule and did not serve as a deterrent to the activity," the officer said. "The other day after I spent a whole day taking up dozens of barrels of gas oil, the man only got fined $700 with community service. We once arrested a man at 1:00 in the afternoon and at that time of the day we seized more than $60,000 from him."

Before the passing of an amendment to the Petroleum (Quality Control) Act in April, the penalty for several breaches did not exceed $10,000. Now illegal operators can be fined up to $1 million for breaches.

Illegal operators often breach more than nine provisions of these laws, including those governing opening hours, licensing and prescription for storing. But even with their legal empowerment and the increased fines, the police are citing other obstructions in their work.

Frederick Williams, superintendent in charge of operations in the St. Andrew South Division, said: "The communities where these activities take place are very volatile and you have to be careful of attack. At the same time you wouldn't want people to start lighting fires because they hear that police coming. When we are moving in, it must be well-planned and co-ordinated so we don't create other problems."

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