The Monday Gleaner reported that the energy ministry said it would be cracking down on illegal suppliers of petroleum products.

According to the article, Clive Mullings, minister of Energy, said a special task force will be established to target illegal operators. While the article did not say how the ministry would do this, we welcome this attempt.

Also, given the current high costs of gasolene, it would also be interesting to find out how the special force intends to prevent the reopening of the illegal stations.

The article also said that there are more than 100 illegal gas distribution points in Kingston and St. Andrew alone. Certainly, there have been operations by the police to close down illegal gas stations, but that had not discouraged others from opening their doors.

In addition, THE STAR has reported cases before where illegal gas stations are closed down by the police, and months later the same illegal stations reopen.

Given these circumstances and the urgency with which the matter needs to be addressed, we hope that this special force will not only be equipped to close down stations but to prevent them from reopening.

The dangers these gas stations pose are no secret. however, dealing with the problem requires more than just closing down the illegal operations. If this is the minister's only intention, then as long as gas prices continue to rise, these illegal stations will continue to operate.