Cop cars run again

A FUEL crisis that has hampered the work of the Police for the last week has been temporarily brought under control thanks to an agreement between the Ministry of Safety and Security and local fuel suppliers this week.

The Police’s public relations division yesterday said that petrol supply to Police stations across the country was being restored as a result. The Ministry has been unable to settle an increasing fuel debt with suppliers Total and Shell.”The problem was resolved as of today,” NamPol spokesperson James Matengu said yesterday, although he would not specify the terms of the agreement.According to the public relations division, petrol has been delivered to Police stations since Monday.Speaking to The Namibian on Monday, Total Namibia Public Affairs Director John Dammert confirmed the Police’s unsettled debt, but declined to reveal the amount “out of respect for the client”.He also confirmed that an agreement had been reached with the Ministry to resume petrol deliveries to Police stations countrywide.”We are in discussion with the line Ministry,” he said.”We realise we’re drawing towards the end of one financial year, and this is something that can be expected.Obviously it puts a squeeze on us as we’re getting late payment for products provided, but we’re not overly concerned,” he said.Shell Namibia Sales Manager Cosmos Damaseb also said the Ministry had made arrangements for the supply of fuel to continue, but said the company was not prepared to elaborate on contractual agreements with their clients.Government’s current financial year closes at the end of this month, and Finance Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila is to table the next year’s Budget in Parliament tomorrow.In his Budget speech last year, Minister of Safety and Security Peter Tsheehama said that at least N$103 million was needed to sustain the Police’s running costs, consisting mainly of fuel and maintenance, for this past year.The Ministry has been unable to settle an increasing fuel debt with suppliers Total and Shell.”The problem was resolved as of today,” NamPol spokesperson James Matengu said yesterday, although he would not specify the terms of the agreement.According to the public relations division, petrol has been delivered to Police stations since Monday.Speaking to The Namibian on Monday, Total Namibia Public Affairs Director John Dammert confirmed the Police’s unsettled debt, but declined to reveal the amount “out of respect for the client”.He also confirmed that an agreement had been reached with the Ministry to resume petrol deliveries to Police stations countrywide.”We are in discussion with the line Ministry,” he said.”We realise we’re drawing towards the end of one financial year, and this is something that can be expected.Obviously it puts a squeeze on us as we’re getting late payment for products provided, but we’re not overly concerned,” he said.Shell Namibia Sales Manager Cosmos Damaseb also said the Ministry had made arrangements for the supply of fuel to continue, but said the company was not prepared to elaborate on contractual agreements with their clients.Government’s current financial year closes at the end of this month, and Finance Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila is to table the next year’s Budget in Parliament tomorrow.In his Budget speech last year, Minister of Safety and Security Peter Tsheehama said that at least N$103 million was needed to sustain the Police’s running costs, consisting mainly of fuel and maintenance, for this past year.