RUBiS is KNOWN PETROL PREDITOR

RUBiS is known all over the Caribbean to be a preditor, with regard to the treatment of its operators, recently the Government of Jamaica had to step in to save the plight of local Rubis operators.

In Dominica, the Government is not having any of this type of treatment.

 The main issues of contention include:

* revision of the franchise fees

*revision of high equipment usage fees

* the application of a prepayment policy.

* the full implementation of a new electronic payment system;

Members of the JGRA, demonstrated outside Rubis' Rockfort headquarters in East Kingston in an effort to get the company to roll back the policies that fuel retailers said will hurt franchise owners financially.

The placard-bearing demonstrators lined the both sides of the road, airing their grouse about the policies which they described as "unfair and unreasonable". They had threatened to further protest action until Rubis decided to roll back the new policies.

Rubis dealers complained Monday that, in addition to an increase in franchise fees, they were being asked to make payments in US dollars, while fuel would have to be paid upfront payment in cash before petrol delivery, which they said would eliminate the credit system.

Retail manager for Rubis Raymond Samuels, in a release after the demonstration, dismissed claims that dealers are asked to pay franchise fees in US currency. He said that franchise fees were often indexed in US dollars, but that dealers were never required to pay in US dollars. "All franchise fees are invoiced and paid in Jamaican dollars," the release said.At the same time, Samuels said that the granting of credit to dealers would be considered on assessment.

JGRA President Leonard Green said Monday that the changes would negatively affect the dealers. "The (Rubis) dealers will obviously not be able to survive under these terms. Our role is to protect Jamaican entrepreneurs and keep them in business and to protect the workers. Quite a lot of them are being exposed. In the event that their businesses fail, the workers are also exposed," Green said, adding that trade unions which represent gas station employees were on board with the JGRA on the matter.

A Corporate Area Rubis dealer, who gave his name only as Robert, said that the company was already getting credit from the Jamaican Government, through Petrojam, which he said should be extended to franchise dealers. The majority of gas stations dealers, he said, are over 65, and purchasing petrol for cash would make it difficult for them to remain in business.