Just about every Texaco station in the country of Belize is out of fuel tonight - or about to run out of it.
It's the product of a four-day fuel blockade effected by the Petroleum Haulers Association and its hard-line president Joe Briceno. As of Friday - every truck hauling fuel in Belize had to be licensed with the association. But the 12 trucks that haul fuel for Texaco were kept out of the association. Without a license - they have not been able to deliver fuel and that blockade lasted until noon today. That's when Texaco representatives got temporary approval from government to use four trucks to supply their most clients with the most urgent needs.
But that's only a stopgap measure that will help some stations - as others dealers in low priority areas will continue to languish without fuel and mounting expenses. But what's really behind the problem? Well, it seems, Texaco - on the advice of its international headquarters - has refused to do business with the association in the fashion demanded by President Joe Briceno.
Texaco has an independent contract with its haulers - and now the association wants that contract rescinded and a new one entered into with the association. It's a proposal that Texaco has reportedly flatly refused - and that refusal led to the weekend blockade. Now with the intervention of central government - a meeting has been planned tomorrow for the Hauler's Association executive and Texaco. And until this is worked out and operations are fully restored, the majority of Texaco's 30 service stations countrywide - will have to close shop and wait for the next delivery.