Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan confirms that there will not be any increase in fares for commuters using the PTSC buses, despite an increase in the price of fuel.
Since the announcement by Finance Minister Colm Imbert, several Associations have announced their intention to adjust their fares on April 19th, saying they would not be able to absorb the increase in fuel prices.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Minister Sinanan says there has been no such discussion with the PTSC, noting that prices will remain as is for now. Mr. Sinanan adds that electric buses are being considered for purchase which would ease the burden of fuel costs for PTSC.
Meanwhile, President of the Trinidad and Tobago Taxi Drivers Association, Adrian Acosta, says his membership will break their silence later this week regarding Government’s impending increase in the price of fuel.
In mid-March Mr. Acosta had indicated that taxi drivers would have to adjust their fares if Government moves ahead of increasing fuel prices. His comments came after Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley said during ‘Conversations with the Prime Minister’ that the population cannot be insulated from worldwide changes in energy prices.
Mr. Acosta told TTT News the Association would make an announcement on Thursday. But in March, he had stated that taxi drivers would not be carrying the burden of any fuel subsidy removal.
Meanwhile, President General of the Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union, Ancel Roget, says the increase in motor fuel prices will have a rippling effect on the economy.
Speaking at a media conference on Tuesday, Mr. Roget said the increase announced by Finance Minister Colm Imbert represents the fourth fuel price hike since the Government took office in 2015.
Mr. Roget said the price hike is expected to bring hardship and difficulty to the population. Mr. Roget said based on the decreased levels of oil production, the Union developed a proposal to increase crude oil production levels. He said the information was sent to the Minister of Finance Colm Imbert three weeks ago.
Mr. Roget said the OWTU’s plan to increase the country’s oil production levels comes at no cost to the Government.
Finance Minister Colm Imbert has maintained that, “increases in the price of gas are never easy to absorb,” and that the price of gas in Trinidad and Tobago is the second lowest out of 13 Caribbean countries in 2022.