Taking stations supply failures compounded
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Long queues faced by residents of the villages in southern Bolivar state after the fuel pumps were taken over by the national government for just under a month.

Natalie Garcia
Photo William Urdaneta



Residents must spend hours waiting to fill the tanks of vehicles making service stations in southern Bolivar state, brought shortages of fuel at the pumps operating in the area. Gasoline comes every two or three days, which complicates the inhabitants and visitors to the region.

Betsymar Arellano says that "it is horrible, since the state took it did not know what to do, the tractor trailers do not come every day and so are the queues before was not the case, everything was smooth but everything has become a disaster. "

Service stations collapsed on Friday, from Tumeremo to kilometer 88, leaving many people stranded on their way to Santa Elena de Uairen, which will be held Sunday cycling competition Challenge to the Abyss.

"The queues are huge, first time I see that in Tumeremo vehicles should be alienated to one side of the highway so long tail, that is horrible and we have to wait for gasoline because we have a quarter tank and does not give us advance, "said Manuel Garcia, who travels to the Gran Sabana to enjoy competitive sport.

Jose Marcano, said "I do not know what to do, how far we go with this situation before because they allegedly had gas for mining, gas and now there is a prisoner in the cities because of the decision taken by the government This is unheard of. "

Legal Support
Making service stations are covered in the performance of the Organic Law of the Internal Market Reorganization of Liquid Fuels, legal instrument published in the Official Gazette of 39 019 September 18, 2008.

The form provides that "the National Executive through the Ministry of the People with expertise in oil field goods and services qualify complementary activities reserved, that under this scheme shall be subject to the expressly stated in this Act."

One of the aspects referred to is "compulsory acquisition" of at least 18 bombs in Bolivar state, of the 80 that are in total according to figures provided by the Association of Petrol.

The Organic Law on Reorganization of the Internal Market of Liquid Fuels provides in Article 8 within 60 days after the effective date of the determination to negotiate with the owners selling their business assets.

To be "fruitless the Ministry of Popular Power must start with competence oil expropriation decree after the acquisition of assets necessary to achieve the objectives that the Act reserves."

Users and owners fear that the problem with the fuel supply to the south is deteriorating fully implemented the law, and he is plunged into "anarchy" end to complicate the already fragile state of the economy into the area.