‘I think it is reasonable given the country’s nature and state and ability to finance these matters…’ – PM Dr Keith Rowley
By Sue-Ann Wayow
PRIME Minister Dr Keith Rowley is asking the population to be reasonable as it relates to the increased fuel prices that took effect on Tuesday.
Dr Rowley was not in the country when nationwide protests were held that day, mostly organised by the Opposition, against the $1 increase on premium and super gasoline and the 50 cents on diesel.
Speaking to the media following his return from Barbados on Thursday, the Prime Minister said taxpayers were footing half of the gas bill which was reasonable.
He said, “I think it is reasonable given the country’s nature and state and ability to finance these matters… Yes, it is something we would rather not have to deal with, but the reality is the product cost more, the taxpayer paying half of the cost and you the user paying the other half of the cost. Reasonable.”
Dr Rowley said, “The increase that is being born is not the total increase for obtaining those products. The government is bearing a significant portion of the cost and what is being protested is a portion of the cost.”
He also said that refining oil would not solve the problem as stated by the Opposition since even in the US, oil prices were skyrocketing
Dr Rowley was asked if a lower price on the international market could result in lower prices of the pump.
He responded, “We are formulating at this point in time that trigger point where we did say earlier on, that each month a posted price would be put there and that posted price would be related to the prevailing market circumstance. We are going to get there very soon and the Minister of Finance is already working on that. The trigger points would be made known to the population.”
Dr Rowley added, “It is reasonable to expect that if the price goes down significantly that the price at the pump will go down. That is something that we will be doing for the first time in this country for a long time which is standard prices.”
