Antigua and Barbuda faces another increase in gasoline and diesel prices with the next petroleum shipment, Prime Minister Gaston Browne has warned.
Browne said international oil prices had climbed to approximately US$105 a barrel amid continuing geopolitical instability, leaving the Government with little control over the imported cost.
“By the next shipment of oil, it is going to increase again, so we’re going to have to increase the cost of gasoline and diesel,” he said.
The prime minister made the disclosure while responding to a prospective homeowner who said the price of a house had risen from approximately EC$171,000 to EC$220,000 before land costs.
Browne said higher freight, petroleum and construction-material prices had pushed up building costs worldwide. Energy-intensive products such as aluminium had also become more expensive, increasing the price of items including windows.
“Prices are increasing practically on a daily basis,” he said. “It’s something over which we have absolutely no control.”
He rejected the suggestion that National Housing or CHAPA was attempting to overcharge applicants, arguing that agencies were passing through unavoidable increases in construction costs.
When fuel increases, businesses pass the cost directly to customers. The ordinary consumer always feels it most.
The international situation may be beyond our control, but the local response is within the Government’s control.
So happen to all them taxes they taking from us? Nothing a strethch??
While it is inevitable something should be sone so people can afford to put gas in their tank
Everything gone up up up. I went supermarket with one bag and paid 2 hundred and something dollars. Tough luck!!
Here we go again… fuel goes up, then transportation, food and everything else follows. At this point people need some kind of break.
Our four fathers never had that issue.
Another fuel increase will hit bus drivers, taxi operators, farmers, fishermen and small businesses especially hard.