The news brought serious concerns and discussions from the man on the street and otherwise with leader of the opposition Hon. Donaldson Romeo weighing in.
by Bennette Roach
On Tuesday, April 6, 2013, Delta Petroleum Ltd. issued a revised price for LPG (liquid propane gas) cooking gas, which reflects a significant increase, perhaps the largest ever in the cost of the commodity. The retail price for a 100lb cylinder of LPG is now $233.00, which represents a $64.00 increase from the previous price of $169.00. This means a 20lb cylinder is now $46.60 having retailed for $33.80 before this increase.
A large number of households and individuals purchase mostly the 20lb cylinder. But, now paying $12.80 more, is for everyone significant and for some almost impossible, as we heard from a ZJB report when they trekked the street with their microphones.
Even after discovering that the newly revised price for the gas was not as high as the initial price released on Monday residents say adamantly, the increase is an added burden on them.
ZJB got reaction from a good cross section of the community who said they had just purchased or about to purchase the gas, as follows:
Persons who bought gas:
“I’m sorry but I think that’s too expensive especially for the poor Montserratian people who cannot afford that much, I do live here. Yes, I think it’s ridiculous, sorry.”
“It’s very unfair to us cause we can’t afford to live right now. We’re living from hand to mouth and now the gas, so what we have to start doing now cooking our food on fire.”
“I’m talking bout the cooking gas. I know eleven weeks ago in that order, it came down now it’s gone back up. But what are the reasons? Is it the reason is increase in government taxes, or is it increase from Delta Petroleum? It is not an increase on global scale in terms of gas production that is not valid I know that from being in the stock market, just tell us why, then we can make a proper comment.”
“When the gas go to these type of price what must we do burn coal? Murphy is the only person that burn coal regularly and he nar sell.”
“I think this is ridiculous they need to carry back down this gas form one something to two hundred and something no way, we have to march in this …country.”
“I think that we’re being taken for a ride, the government is not looking after the older people them. Gas prices gone up, passport gone up, birth paper gone up, and we aren’t doing nothing about it and we need to do something about it we need to protest and stand up for our rights because this is overkill and if cooking gas gone up as well how awe a go survive.”
“If me buy the gas me can’t buy food.”
Meanwhile there has been an increases at the pump in both diesel and petrol prices while not as high, yet significant. Diesel now sells at $15.93 up from $14.11 for a 13% increase, while petrol is up $1.01 from $15.12 to $16.13.
The comments from the various persons encompass much of the difficulty and reflect the feelings over the huge increase in already high cost of living in Montserrat, which according to DFID show an inflation of 25% from 2006, commenting that from a recent survey, neither public sector pay nor social welfare has increased since 2006. It is well known also that the employees all round are also complaining they have not received increase in salary and wages for several years, some not counting on a guaranteed salary.
Leader of the opposition, Donaldson Romeo, commented from Antigua. He says the price for lpg in Antigua for a 100lb cylinder is $158.00. He said, “I understand it is subsidised by the Antiguan government and the people of Antigua are fussing over $158.00, and are shocked to learn that Montserrat is now paying $233 over a previous $169.”
“This is just too much for people to bear, and I think something needs to be done to help the people of Montserrat. We have been under allot of strain for a long time,” he concluded.
One consumer told The Montserrat Reporter that not too long ago the price had gone as high as $225.00, but had indeed been reduced as far back as the $169 price.
Romeo had only recently questioned the Premier and Minister of Finance about the possibility of reducing the duty or subsidise the cost of petrol and cooking gas to the consumer. A reduction in the cost of diesel will impact the cost of electricity. He had heard the response of NO one more time from the Premier.
Meanwhile Manager of local Delta according to ZJB reports, says the prices for Diesel, gasoline, and LPG are calculated by government trade department. She further stated, that there has been an established understanding between Delta and the government of Montserrat about how the selling prices for all petroleum products are determined”
Manager Roselyn Sealy further explained that every time a new shipment comes to the island the price of the product is determined by the prevailing invoice price to Montserrat as well as the volumes, which, she says, may result in variation in prices from time to time.
Photo caption: There have always been LPG issues dating far back since the start of the crisis, involving shortages and prices
