Back in February, the Government faced a growing rebellion from omnibus drivers, who felt the decision to halve the amount of people able to travel on a bus, made it impossible for them to sustain a business. Forced into realising that they might be hurting some crucial workers, the Gonsalves Government conceded to a $500 financial concession in order to alleviate some pressure.
Yet, barely a month later, Cabinet has approved increases in petrol charges from anywhere between $0.75 and $1.40 per gallon. They have in effect given omnibus drivers a subsidy, only to demand it be paid back at the petrol pumps.
This coupled with the fact that petroleum is one of our biggest imports and is therefore about to be hit with the increase in customs charge, shows that the Gonsalves Government is happy to just dismiss the concerns of our already struggling omnibus drivers.
Why Should you Care?
The increased rate at the pumps will hit everyone, not just the bus drivers. What tends to happen when a business faces increased prices outside of its control, is an increase in prices to the consumers to offset a dip in revenue.
This means average Vincentians will face higher bus prices. The cost of going to work and to school, to visit your friends and catch up with loved ones will rise.
Anyone who owns a car will now feel the pinch. If your car needs to be serviced, importing new parts or new tyres will now become more expensive as a result of the customs charge. Then you will face TWO separate increases in price on your petrol, one from the customs charge and one from the Government’s petrol price increase.
At a time when businesses are closing and people are losing their jobs, this Government is making something as simple as every day commute more expensive.
The Gonsalves Government doesn’t care about regular Vincentians, if they did, they wouldn’t keep increasing the cost of living.