‘Enough is enough’ say gas dealers

In addition to staff layoffs, Mr Bastian suggested that “something bigger” is in the works.

“Our association is scheduled to have a meeting I think in the next week to finalise our next train of thought or action in regard to this margin increase and how we are going to deal with this,” he told The Tribune.

“We’re getting a lot of pressure from dealers who are ready to do what they have to do and the pressure is on me. I’m having a lot of sleepless nights dealing with this group of men and women who are now telling me that... enough is enough.”

When asked by this newspaper if the association was threatening to strike, he said: “We are not in the business of threatening no government, we negotiate with governments.”

Despite “pressure” from association members, Mr Bastian said he remains optimistic that the government will acknowledge the issues relating to retailers.

Last year, petroleum dealers called for a 50 percent increase in their gasoline retail margin which, if granted, would have raised it by 27 cents per gallon, from 54 cents to 81 cents.

However, Mr Bastian said despite a series of meetings with government officials last year no change in the margins was granted. He said: “We haven’t met with the government for the year. We continue to write the government letters and try to reach out to the government to see if they would accommodate us to have another sit down.”

While acknowledging