Last Monday, Minister of Finance Dr Ashni Singh announced a 30% reduction in the price of fuel at Guyana Oil Company gas stations. Since then some private stations have followed suit. This week we asked the man and woman in the street for their views on the slashing of the price for fuel. Their comments follow:
Kwame Hutson, student – ‘The world prices for gas dropped months ago and personally I think it’s very convenient for the gas prices locally to go down right around the corner from elections. That alone makes me think it’s an elections ploy. Also, it doesn’t seem to be affecting me because I use public transportation and fares are still the same and there seems to be no sign of it being lowered. That’s my main concern; bus fares aren’t decreased and drivers use maintenance cost for repairs as an excuse.’
Preya Roopnarine, cashier – ‘The gas prices drop but when you go to the park in the night the bus men still want $200 for what is usually a $120 drop. Especially during the night they hike up the price when they see that there are no other buses. So, the gas price drop but the fare still high. Everybody working and you got to go to work and back and a lot of other places so if the passage cheaper it would be better. Right now we just have to see about these bus drivers getting a regular, reasonable price.’
Seamber, unemployed – ‘I don’t have a vehicle so it doesn’t bother me. I see bus conductors working hard for customers in the hot sun and rain so the fare right now is not bothering me. I mean, people in the offices don’t have to go through what these men going through but the price for electricity should have dropped, I believe.’
Hameraj Singh, taxi driver – ‘I want to know how it does go up and come down just so. The thing is, if the gas price drop or stay the same the fares going to stay the same so the government has to control that. I travel with taxis and buses and it’s all the same to me even with the gas drop.’
Ramesh, fisherman – ‘I have been a fisherman about 20 years and I buy about 300 gallons of fuel at a time so for me the lower price is a really good thing. I can tell you that the price before was more difficult to deal with, especially when I have to buy large amounts. I go out for weeks at a time so for me it’s no choice so this is definitely more beneficial to people like me who need a lot of gas. I believe that for the people who use public
transportation it should be better too because the fares should also fall but I don’t know if that is really going to happen.
Harry Nelson, seaman – ‘The prices have to drop because it has to be done for the people. For me we got to go out there and get the fish so if the price too high it’s going to be difficult for us to do what we need for the people. So I’m really happy about the lower price. I travel by bus but I don’t expect the price to drop. Remember for bus drivers is not the gas alone. They have to worry about the parts for the bus and that’s a problem. So it’s good but not really as nice for them. I work in the bush sometimes too and I don’t think the fuel price decrease is going to affect anything in there because things always really dear in the bush.’
Travis Grant, meter technician – ‘I think it’s nice that it was dropped but disappointed that it has not trickled down to the pockets of the commuters. However, I do understand that fuel prices aren’t the only factor determining the fares. Other factors such as maintenance and spare parts for vehicles need to be considered and something needs to be done about that. Only then will we see fuel prices benefiting not only the drivers but all Guyanese.’
Letisha Da Silva, payroll assistant – ‘The drop in the gas prices is just something that’s going to benefit people who buy fuel. For commuters, such as myself, it’s going to be the same old thing. Bus drivers and taxi drivers are not going to drop their fares. Instead, they will make excuses and say that they need to buy parts and have repairs done for their vehicles. However, that was something that was always there; these issues did not just materialize with the gas drop. No, they are simply looking to make as big a profit as possible. I’m sure when they were working before the price decrease they were making a profit. Now, it’s just going to be a bigger profit without any consideration for passengers and what can be done to make their lives easier.’
Salim Balkarran, fisherman – ‘For us fishermen, we’re facing a problem here. Just to build one boat is approximately $7 million. To equip it to go out is about $500,000. There’s a situation where when the cash come in we find it difficult to get a
proper price. So then we actually feel the price of the gas when we have to purchase it in very large quantities. We got the drop and we’re grateful for that but I think that for us fishermen we need more than just a drop in gas. It’s still not enough for us. For me, I buy gas from GuyOil and for me it’s very expensive. Of course now it drop but I feel it’s still too much. Maybe they can put a system in place where you prove you’re a licensed fisherman and you get a discount. I think it will be more beneficial at the end of the day for us.’
Andrew Yarde, mechanic – ‘I drive and it’s a benefit for me to see this drop in the gasoline price. It’s definitely relieving to have to pay less for something. For me diesel is useless so cuts to that isn’t anything to me.’
