Dear Editor,
Gas rationing is officially over in New York City and what a relief it has been for the Guyanese community in Queens, Bronx and Brooklyn, indeed all over the city, to have unrestricted amounts of fuel so they can carry on with their business. Gas rationing was one effect of Superstorm Sandy that devastated the US northeast and people were upset at not being able to drive around freely and having to worry about fuel. What an impact gas shortage had on New York Guyanese as indeed everyone, changing their routines and lifestyle and testing their frayed nerves, causing at least one motorist to pull a gun at another in a gas line, fist fights, verbal shouting, etc. Overhearing Guyanese in conversations, the NY gas shortage brought back memories to them of gas scarcity in Guyana during the 1980s. “Like abe dey back in Guyana here man,” one told another. As in Guyana, people lined for hours and even overnight for gasoline.
Some cars were parked in lines for days. Because of power problems at the wharf, gas could not be pumped into containers and tanker trucks could not be loaded with deliveries to stations. After more than a week of long lines at gas pumps, the mayor decided to implement a rationing system of odd/even number plates taking turns every other day. He officially ended that policy last week after the Thanksgiving break.
In fact, gas was plentiful right after Diwali with gas station operators complaining that they lost a lot of money from lack of supplies for customers. Several stations are owned by Guyanese or Indian nationals, especially in Richmond Hill and other parts of Queens. The gas shortage forced many to turn to mass transit.
No one had anticipated the impact of Sandy on the gas pump, so people did not bother to fill up before the storm. And immediately after the storm, people were advised not to go outdoors because of the dangers posed by fallen live electric wires, manholes, floods, fallen trees, etc. So for days, just before and immediately after the storm there was little demand for gas. And then when Sandy’s danger subsided, there was a mad rush at the gas stations which quickly ran out of fuel.
I did not encounter confrontations among Guyanese who were very civil for the most part, obeying rules on the line. The station did not want individuals to line up with containers leading to complaints by motorists. Some individuals filled up containers and resold at double the price. At one time, gas was four times the regular price with people complaining about paying up to $20 a gallon. My niece said she paid $10 a gallon. The National Guard was at one time giving away five gallons of gas for free but long lines quickly developed and those supplies quickly ran out.
First responders (emergency workers) got preference over everyone else. So this system even further delayed those on line. There were frustrated sighs everywhere. It was a citywide problem and in all communities. And somehow people felt the Mayor could have done something to ease the situation. It was not Bloomberg’s fault. But angry motorists had to take out their frustration on someone. So the Mayor, far out of sight, got the brunt of the insults. He could have initiated the rationing system much sooner as the Governor of New Jersey did right after the storm. After the rationing system took effect, the lines became shorter and the waiting time became less. The lines dwindled back to normal. Consumer complaints led to the Governor taking action, ordering the Attorney general to launch an investigation into price gouging. Several stations were identified. The owners of these stations in Queens – none in Jamaica or Richmond Hill and no Guyanese – will be prosecuted.
The gas shortage had a tremendous impact on the Guyanese American community. Those employed at gas stations lost income when the stations were closed. Deliveries of Guyanese products were held up; vegetables and fruits rotted. Stores also lost money over other perishables, like bread, etc. that had to be dumped. One truck driver of a Guyanese wholesale business told he was willing to pay $10 a gallon for fuel so he could make his company’s deliveries to reduce losses and also keep jobs. I want to applaud the owner of a gas station in Long Island who went around with a tanker assisting drivers whose cars cut out for lack of gas on roadways and highways. They also brought gas to many Guyanese in Queens at a time of critical need.
Yours faithfully,
Vishnu Bisram
