Sol Jamaica remains committed to educating our valued customers on the benefits of using Shell Lubricants and our Sol supplied services. On March 14, 2018 we hosted a training session which included the Basics of Lubricants, Shell product lines, features & benefits of using Shell Lubricants, as well as the Marketing and Technical support that is available to our customers. Providing this knowledge to these influencers will better assist them in recommending Shell Lubricants to the end consumer.
Sol Bahamas recently celebrated its Transport Team during this year’s Fleet Week, which was held February 19-24, 2018. This Sol initiative recognised the importance of our drivers and seeks to encourage safe driving and delivery practices, as a key aspect of our HSE standards. The week kicked off with a ‘Safety Stand-down Breakfast’ at Clifton Pier Terminal followed by ‘drive-alongs’ where members of our customer service team, accompanied drivers on their travels. Sol Bahamas also recognized the individual achievements of the some of our standout drivers, who consistently exemplified the incredibly high HSE standards and practices over the past year. At the end of the week the Transportation and Maintenance Teams and their spouses were treated to a wonderful dinner at Poseidon’s Table, Atlantis.
Sol Bahamas salutes our Fleet team and thanks them for their hard work and dedication!
In February 2015, Sol Barbados began a partnership with the Barbados Tennis Association (BTA), where students from Blackman and Gollop Primary School, Grantley Prescod Memorial Primary School and Luther Thorne Primary School have enjoyed weekly tennis sessions at the Barbados National Tennis Centre. The approximately 25 students in the programme, aged 7-11, enjoy tennis coaching from highly qualified, certified coaches Julian Baird, Kandia Shorey and Christian Maxwell.
The BTA hosts an annual, friendly, inter-school competition, where the students are able to meet and show off their skills. This year, local tennis superstar Darian King, and other members of the Barbados Davis Cup team, including Seanon Williams, along with Darian’s coach and brother, Christopher King, surprised the students, and even assisted with some of the coaching. Kudos to these young men for their involvement, and of course, much thanks to the Sol Barbados team for their continued support of the local tennis programme.
On December 15, 2017, Mr. Ronald Tackling celebrated the 45th anniversary of the management of the R&R Tackling Service Station in St. Maarten. He celebrated this major milestone with his staff and of course, the Sol St. Maarten team. In 1972, the service station first came under Tackling management through Mr. Tackling’s parents, under the Shell brand. It was subsequently passed to his late brother, Romero and after Romero’s passing, it was turned over to Mr. Ronald Tackling, who is the current manager under the Sol brand. The Sol team joined Mr. Tackling in a small celebration, where the team reflected on the success of R&R Tackling Service Station thus far.
What the proposed sale means for Barbadians
At Sol, our customers are our top priority and we have pledged our continued commitment to the communities we operate within. We are committed to providing you with credible, easily-accessible information surrounding the proposed Barbados National Terminal Company Ltd. (BNTCL) sale.
We have thus far respected the FTC’s investigative process as it relates to the proposed transaction and now that we have received a final ruling, we are reviewing the FTC’s decision regarding the transaction to determine how best to move forward with our proposal to purchase the BNTCL. Below, we are sharing our views and addressing queries as they relate to the transaction as proposed.
1. Will Sol be able to import petroleum products after the privatisation of BNTCL? BNTCL does not import, own or sell any petroleum products — it merely provides through putting services (storage and transfer of petroleum products). Ownership of BNTCL would not allow Sol to influence or control the importation of petroleum products, because this is the responsibility of the BNOCL — a separate, government-owned entity. Sol has not requested any right to exclusively import products as part of the transaction nor does it intend to.
2. Would Sol’s ownership of BNTCL allow Sol to control the pricing of fuel products? No. The pricing of any fuel products is, and would continue to be, the responsibility of the Government of Barbados, through the Division of Energy. If the sale were to be approved, the Government would retain regulatory oversight and control the final pump price to consumers.
3. Would there be any increase for consumers at the pump, as a result of the proposed sale? If there is an increase it would be minimal. For consumers filling up on an average 45-litre tank, the proposed increase in throughput fees would translate into approximately BBD 0.02 (2 cents) per litre on gasoline and BBD 0.014 (1.4 cents) per litre on diesel at the pump. This means that four full tanks a month would result in an increase of less than BBD 5.00 per month to the average consumer.
4. What would be the government’s role in BNTCL after its sale? It has been stipulated in the sale and purchase agreement that the Barbados Government will be issued with a ‘Golden Share’ which would allow it to maintain some control over the use and operation of BNTCL in the interest of the Barbadian public. From the onset of the transaction, Sol has advocated for the regulation of BNTCL’s throughput fees. The Government of Barbados, however, would need to establish the necessary framework for such regulation of BNTCL’s throughput fees post-merger.
5. What structures would be in place to ensure that the current competitive landscape is maintained? Sol has suggested to the FTC (and is open to any suggestions from the FTC) to have conditions imposed on the merger which will address any competitive concerns pertaining to the transaction. Sol is willing to enter into binding agreements with the approved users of the BNTCL terminal and with the FTC in order to set definitive and fair operating standards to which the BNTCL terminal will be bound, and to ensure that all customers of the terminal, including Sol’s direct competitors, are adequately serviced on fair and non-discriminatory terms.
6. How would the foreign exchange generated by this sale affect Barbados? The sale of BNTCL to Sol allows the Government to realise necessary foreign exchange to bolster a fragile foreign reserve position. As Barbados is currently below investment grade as a result of recent downgrades, an increase in foreign exchange reserves would help investors look more favourably towards Barbados as an investment destination.
7. Will Barbadians be allowed an opportunity to invest in BNTCL? The sale of BNTCL allows the public of Barbados to participate with a 35% ownership interest through an initial public offering. Under Sol ownership, the BNTCL will be a public company and Barbadians can become investors in its business. This creation of a new public company is extremely significant as it would give Barbadians an opportunity to receive benefits as a result of the sale of the BNTCL.
Our dedication to this country remains steadfast and we will continue to look for ways to better respond to the needs of our most valued stakeholders – the Barbadian people. Sol is, of course, in the business of petroleum, but first and foremost, we are in the business of people.
Kimberley Stuart and her friend Gabriel ‘Kris’ Williams were the big winners with Esso Win with A Friend promotion which ran November – December 2017. The lucky winners were presented with their prizes – 2018 Suzuki Swift and 2018 Suzuki Baleno respectively. Customers entered with every $25 purchase of fuel at any participating Esso Station. Every time a customer won, his/her friends won too! Customers got a chance to win in Bi-Weekly draws and challenges held at various service stations. Prizes included Free Fuel, Free Groceries & Free Cinema Tickets.
United Nations Universal Children’s Day was established in 1954 and is celebrated on November 20 to promote international togetherness, awareness among children worldwide, and improving children’s welfare.On November 20, 2017, in celebration of Universal Children’s Day, Sol Jamaica’s representatives taught a class on Lubrication to the Auto Club students of Jonathan Grant High School.
The topics included:
• Safety Moment: Personal Safety during the Holidays
• Basics of Lubricants
• Shell Helix (Gasoline Engine Oils)
• Shell Rimula (Heavy Duty Diesel Engine Oils
• Shell Spirax (Gear, Axle & Transmission Oils)
• Marketing – Reasons to believe in our brands
All the Auto Club students, School principal and class teachers were presented with tokens from Sol. These tokens were very well received and the Principal of Jonathan Grant High School expressed his appreciation for the continued support from Sol Petroleum Jamaica.
On November 15, the Corporate Supply team toured the Rose PG—a new oil tanker which recently passed through Barbados. The Rose PG will be picking up product and shuttling it around the Caribbean to its various drop points. The vessel, which is the latest in vessel architecture and technology, was welcomed to Barbados by the Corporate Sol Supply team, who presented the crew with cake, gifts and other Sol-branded memorabilia. The Sol Supply team was then treated to a tour of the vessel by Captain Jakub Kujawski.
This new relationship with the Rose PG demonstrates Sol’s long-term commitment to the logistics of energy supply in the Caribbean. Presently, Sol has the most extensive supply network in the Caribbean, covering product supply from the US Gulf to South America.
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Barbados: December 6, 2017 – SOL PETROLEUM (BARBADOS) SRL, (Sol) confirmed that the former employees of the Esso-branded service station at Black Rock are being reassured of the continued commitment of Sol in light of the recent management change at the service station. Word of this came from Ezra Prescod, General Manager of Sol Barbados, who asserted that Sol had been assured by the former dealer that all of the dealer’s employees would be satisfactorily compensated in an expeditious manner.
In the interim, Sol, the licensed distributor of Esso in Barbados, has been proactively seeking to find alternate placements for the majority of the staff. “We are in the process of contacting the affected employees of the former dealer and we are actively working with those who are interested in relocating within our network,” Mr. Prescod stated, adding that interviews with some of these employees are being conducted. He was pleased to confirm that alternate placement has already been given to some of the interviewees, and he reassured that Sol’s primary concern is the well-being of the staff.
“Because of the sensitive nature of the changes, we were sure to provide the former retailer of the station with notice in early October, ahead of the contractually stipulated 30-day notice period,” said Prescod.
As a result of the management change, the contracts of the former service station operator’s employees were concluded. The General Manager also confirmed that they have reached out to the incoming operator who pledged to consider the current team members when staffing the renovated station.
The Black Rock Service station changed management on December 1 and has been temporarily closed to facilitate structural upgrades and essential maintenance in line with Sol’s Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Policy.
The site is scheduled to reopen on December 15, 2017. Sol thanked the members of the former management team and staff of Black Rock Service Station for their contribution to its operations.
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