ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) — The Antigua and Barbuda government today said it would not allow the French-owned RUBIS gas company to monopolise the retail sector in the country.

The move follows communication sent to retailers by the French company regarding the retail of gasoline products.

Telecommunications minister Melford Nicholas, speaking to reporters at the end of the weekly cabinet meeting, said that, “the cabinet is concerned about this in the sense that these local businesses and the retail trade of petroleum is something that has been reserved for a very long time…for local businesses”.

He said the cabinet of Prime Minister Gaston Browne, “views this as a troublesome development from the standpoint that what this would in fact and most generate a monopoly in the distribution of petroleum products”.

Nicholas said that the attempt by RUBIS to squeeze local operators out of the market will not work and that government had written to the company indicating that it is barred from operating gas station since it is a gasoline supplier.

“The survival of these local businesses is important and accordingly what the cabinet has determined (is) a policy and will implement a policy and we are going to be in touch with RUBIS to indicate that the cabinet will not permit RUBIS to operate both as a wholesaler and a retailer in the market.

“It is important that we protect those local businesses and if it is necessary to put this in a legislative framework, we will go to that distance as well,” Nicholas told reporters.

Government hinted that the position of the French-company may have been as a result of a decision not to allow for an increase in the company’s per gallon margin.