Bahamas Chatter: QUESTIONABLE FUEL MEASUREMENTS IN BAHAMAS
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Bahamas Chatter: QUESTIONABLE FUEL MEASUREMENTS IN BAHAMAS
QUESTIONABLE FUEL MEASUREMENTS IN BAHAMAS
Posted: 23 Dec 2016 12:16 PM PST
NOTE TO CRUISERS: Based on the article below, it is a good idea to verify that you are getting the amount of fuel that you pay for in the Bahamas. Please post on the Chatter any discrepancies you find.
Excerpts of article By NEIL HARTNELL
Tribune Business Editor
Sir Franklyn Wilson yesterday said he was “shocked” and “amazed” by assertions from a Government regulator that consumers are being short-changed at 50 per cent of the Bahamas’ gasoline pumps.
The FOCOL Holdings chairman said he was unaware of the Bahamas Bureau of Standards and Quality (BBSQ) findings, but emphasised that neither his firm – nor any other oil industry player – would seek to deliberately cheat the Bahamian public.
“I couldn’t agree more; you should get what you pay for. There’s certainly no intent from us other than for people to get what they paid for,” he told Tribune Business.”
Dr Ferguson-Bufford gave little insight into her findings at last week’s conference other than the headline ‘50 per cent’ figure, and there was no mention of the gas stations and companies where consumers were not receiving the volume of gasoline they were paying for.
Disclosing the Bureau’s ‘rip-off’ findings, she said an inspection of fuel stations by the Bureau had found only half of the pumps measured volumes accurately.
“We have three major service providers, and we’re talking about all of them; we’re not targeting one over the other. We found issues with all of them. We have work to do. We found deficiencies.”
“We spoke to them, and they got their technicians to deal with the issue right away. You should get what you pay for.”
The Bahamas has three major fuel providers – Sol Petroleum/Esso (Bahamas); Rubis/Texaco (Bahamas) and Freeport Oil Company (FOCOL)/ Shell.
The oil/gasoline industry has subsequently been tight-lipped on the Bureau’s findings, with retail dealers contacted by Tribune Business referring this newspaper to their supplier head offices.
Comments from Cruisers (1)
After 31/2 weeks of mixed activities (fishing,snorkeling, cruising) very active and on the boat a lot. We traveled from Walkers down to Hopetown and back up to Walkers with several hotel and fuel splashes at same locations each direction. Returning to Ft. Pierce mid June from Walkers area with a safety margin of fuel of 8o gallons. I have been powerboat crossing since the 1980s to Bahamas . Without boring detaiils we ran out of fuel 30 miles out of Ft Pierce. Coast Guard Came to our rescue. Gotta Love those great guys ! To be honest my fuel gauge is very accurate , but my Flo-Scan is spot on. I logged all fuel gallons I paid for. After all said and done , I did not get all of the fuel I paid for. . Buyer Beware.