The Country Manager of Rubis in Dominica, Nicholson Dodds, has spoken up about the current impasse between the company and the government. The fuel distribution company which recently announced suspension of fuel sales and termination of employees on September 30 said it is operating below profit threshold for the past 11 years.
Dodds said his company raised a complaint with the Skerrit-led administration in 2021 over the losses incurred from “highly unfavourable mandated fuel prices,” and that the government promised to take certain actions to raise profits for Rubis and also implement further helpful structures in the first quarter of 2022. But this has not been the case, hence the ultimate resolve of the company to suspend operations and sack workers.
Dodds said Rubis is not the only major importer affected by the unprofitability of fuel business in Dominica – and that the trio of Rubis, National Petroleum (NP), and West Indies Oil made representations to the government – but it is only Rubis that is taking its current drastic steps.
All representation that was made to the government was a joint approach between Rubis, the National Petroleum (NP) and West Indies Oil as we are the major importers and we are all hurting likewise. This is not only a Rubis problem; all players are affected by the pricing structure. I can confirm to you that they are equally impacted; but what action they take is for them, because we are all independent companies. But as for Rubis, we can no longer sustain those losses.
Nicholson Dodds, Country Manager of Rubis in Dominica
The country manager hinted that if the government does not invite them to the negotiation table within reasonable time, the fuel distributor might consider exiting Dominica. A French energy and renewable electricity company, Rubis operates in more than 40 countries in Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean.
Rubis is a company that seeks opportunities for investment, and it is regrettable that our investment in Dominica had to come to this. If the environment sometime in the future is feasible and the investment climate is susceptible to investors, I think not only Rubis but other companies will be willing to invest. But we can’t continue to invest in a market where our returns for several years have been negative and where there is no end in sight.
Nicholson Dodds, Country Manager of Rubis in Dominica
Meanwhile, while PM Roosevelt Skerrit has threatened to report Rubis to the French authorities, employees of the company have taken to the streets to protest their looming sack by asking the government to negotiate with the oil distributor to save their jobs and livelihoods.
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