Gas goes up 30 cents
per litre as of Friday
PHILIPSBURG--The second gas price hike in just over a month will hit motorists and residents in general on Friday when a NAf. 0.30-per-litre increase goes into effect.
The hike approved by the Executive Council this week takes the price for unleaded gasoline from NAf. 2.20 to NAf. 2.50 per litre.
This is equivalent to about US $1.43 per litre or $5.42 per gallon at the pumps.
In this second price hike for the year, diesel fuel will now cost NAf. 2.40 per litre, an increase of 30 guilder cents. Kerosene users also will have to shell out 30 cents more, as the price moves from NAf. 2.00 to NAf. 2.30 per litre.
Liquid propane gas (LPG) users will also feel the pinch of the price hikes. A 20- pound cylinder of LPG will now cost NAf. 50.40, up from NAf. 43.20. The new price for the 100-pound cylinder is NAf. 149.40. The current price is NAf. 135. LPG Bulk is up from NAf. 160 per pound to NAf. 180.
These increases make more record highs for the island as crude oil prices continue to skyrocket. Locally, the increases in the past two years have been taken in stride by the population with mitigating measures yet in place. On Curaçao, a phased price increase that will total 40 guilder cents has been introduced.
A petition has also been made to the Antillean Ministry of Economic Affairs to increase the minimum wage in Curaçao immediately by five per cent and adapt the bus tariffs. While no wage increase has been requested for St. Maarten, government has requested the elimination of the gasoline excise that would automatically lower the fuel cost. However, no word on the progress of this has been received from the Central Government, said Commissioner Roy Marlin when asked about mitigating measures.
To address the increasing fuel clause on electricity bills that will inch higher with this newest hike, Marlin said at Wednesday’s Executive Council press briefing that utilities company GEBE had hired two persons to make an in-depth study of the company with an eye on cost-cutting measures. A plan of action is expected by the end of June.
GEBE has also launched a public relations campaign urging residents to conserve energy use. He said that while the company looked at providing relief for residents, the onus was on all members of the community to adopt measures to decrease their utilities charges.
