Consumers flock stations for last minute gas!!
Prices up again…

By Terresa McCall
Reporter-SKNVibes.com

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - MOTORISTS across the island of St. Kitts flocked to the pumps last evening having heard that for one week, beginning today, gas prices would be at an all-time-high.

Sometime yesterday, a list of the “maximum retail prices” of unleaded gasoline was issued informing that at two of the three service stations on the island, gas prices would be above EC$14.

According to the correspondence which was issued by the Ministry of Finance, unleaded gasoline prices would stand at a maximum of $13.70 at the Delta Service Stations while at Texaco and Shell Service Stations, unleaded gasoline would be sold at a maximum of $14.02 and $14.12 respectively.

Last evening, SKNVibes was informed of and witnessed increased activity at the pumps and, following investigations as to the reason, it was revealed that persons were “in a rush” to fill up their gas tanks before the price change took effect.

Consumers have been bearing the brunt of fluctuating prices since the December 1, 2006 when what is called “the Full Pass Through System” was implemented by the government. The basic principle of the system is that gasoline prices “at the pump” would fluctuate to reflect international market prices.~~Adz:Right~~

“Based on the new system, which is consistent with international norms and with the recommendations of the Monetary Council of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB), the government will continue to control the profit margins of the oil companies and dealers, so that the margins for these enterprises will remain fixed while the prices at the pump fluctuate to reflect market prices.”

One consumer told this media house that only a couple of years ago $110 was sufficient to fill his vehicle’s fuel tank, but now that is not the case. He listed the upsurge in the price of fuel as one of the contributing factors to the “high cost of living”.