Gas Station Union Denies Corruption Allegations and Demands Urgent Meeting with Officials

The Executive Council of the Gas Station Owners Union held an emergency meeting chaired by Syndic Georges Barakess, attended by Hassan Jaafar, Fadi Abu Shakra, Camille Leon, Suhail Dada, Roukoz Khater, Charbel Al-Kak, Abbas Younes, and Faisal Al-Hajawi. According to a statement, they discussed "what was said in the press conference of former Minister Cesar Abi Khalil, who directed strange and reprehensible accusations and insinuations regarding corruption suspicions related to gas station commissions."

It clarified that "the union does not make deals under the table nor is it ashamed of publicly demanding the rights of station owners. It has submitted several official memoranda to the Minister of Energy and Water, accompanied by economic studies and budgets proving the massive losses incurred by this vital sector due to fixing the commission in the price schedule, amid the outbreak of war in the Arabian Gulf which caused a record increase in global oil product prices. This reflected as a comprehensive rise in consumer goods prices, leading to unprecedented inflation and a collapse in purchasing power."

It considered that "by fixing the commission per liter - regardless of its price - the ministry has turned the station owner into one of its employees, like public sector workers, determining his revenues but raising his expenses and operational costs through increased wages, social security fees, work permits and residency for workers, and municipal taxes, not to mention the rising cost of energy production for the station due to higher diesel prices for generators, so that financial burdens became so huge they consumed any assumed profit margin."

The statement added: "We confirm to public opinion that the current commission is still below the level required to achieve financial balance. Where is the corruption, former Minister? You threatened to file a complaint with the Public Prosecution; we respond by asking the Financial Prosecutor to include us in this complaint and summon us for investigation to clarify the truth. Enough using station owners in populist positions. If you were this concerned about public funds, you should have refrained from increasing your salary as a deputy first. All commercial institutions adjusted their selling prices for goods and commodities due to this situation, so why is it forbidden for station owners?"

It continued: "The union, which refused over the past months to take negative decisions out of compassion for citizens, keenness not to return painful queue scenes to the streets, and preservation of stability and social security, confirms that it will no longer remain silent because it can no longer bear accumulated losses amid officials' indifference. Therefore, so that the union is not forced, reluctantly, towards negative options and outcomes it does not want and prefers to avoid, it appeals to decision-makers in authority to set a quick date for a meeting and find fair solutions for everyone."

It concluded: "The union urges all political forces and leaders not to involve the station sector and the livelihood of its owners and workers in political bazaars and bidding wars, and affirms that the union's doors and documents are clear and open to anyone who wants to review facts and raw numbers."