Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit says his government has no control over the fluctuating price of gas in Dominica.
His comment comes on the heels of pronouncements from the Ministry of Trade that there is going to be another increase in fuel prices on the island.
Prime Minister Skerrit told a cabinet town hall meeting in Point Michel last night that Dominica is not alone.
He says several other Caribbean islands are facing the same issue.
“They will tell you that government is making plenty tax on the gas but some of the gas prices in the Caribbean are higher than Dominica. In Antigua the gas is EC$13.99 but the government there is subsidizing it. In Anguilla its EC $17.76, in Dominica EC$15.44, in Grenada it is $15.12, Montserrat EC$17.19, St Kitts EC$17.20, St Lucia $15.38, St Vincent EC$14.50 and Barbados EC$16.20 and they want you to think is Dominica alone,” he said.
Meantime the Prime Minister says government is still seeking additional ways to reduce the strain on the population.
n it still hv people driving HUMMERS in d/a wi
Dominica have hummers to talk about..It’s apparent u haven’t visited another country. What is a hummer to talk about?
a hummer is a gas guzzler so that is something.. u driving hummer then u must be paying for a full tank
The government need to start putting things in place for alternatives to petrol. An example of such would be CNG. Although this would require the government to put alot of things in place e.g training technicians to make the vehicles CNG compliant, but would equate to greater savings.
YOU PEOPLE ARE DOTISH. GO READ AND WATCH SOME NEWS OF THE WORLD AS @NALS SAID. DOMINICA IS NOT THE ONLY COUNTRY GETTING GAS HIKES. IM IN THE STATES I PAY ALMOST $5 US A GALLON. HOW MUCH IS THAT IN EC? $13.55EC AND YOU PPL ARE NOT PAYING $13.55 A GALON SOOOOOOOOO Y’ALL CRYING FOR NOTHING YAL GETTING THE BETTER END OF THE DEAL THAN OTHER COUNTRIES. YOU PP DOTISH FOR REAL. STOP BLAMING THE GOV AND STOP BEING JACKASSES…SHAIT MAN!!!!
Acourding to you, Jackass gas is almonst 16 bucks now, so inform yourself before blowing hot useless steam.
Look Joke in the US do your maths right. you fool.
1 us is about 2.71 ec do the maths.. IN DOMINICA PPL NOT PAYING $16 A GALLON LMAO Y’ALL TALKING SH*T I WAS IN DOMINICA ALMOST 2 MONTHS AGO .. PLEASE STOP TALKING SH*T
Not to speak out of turn, but I know most governments tax fuel and have control over the taxes they charge on it.
Just yesterday, PM King in St. Lucia reduced the excise tax on fuel to stop prices from going up even more. http://www.htsstlucia.com/2011_News/May/HTS_News_May_12th_2011.htm#pm
Does Skerrit have no such mechanism within his control?
And in spie of all this..the Gvt is quietly building a $27,000,000 statehouse…….laughable!!!!!
spite
You are a fool. they got the money to build the state house specifically to build it and nothing else. Go eat a dry bread in a corna somewhere pal.
give us civil servants a 52 percent increase for the duration
so everybody who not a civil servant should pay more taxes so you can get a pay raise, talk about greedy wee
and on his first term he spoketh with the children of dumbinica and the whole nation listened with great belief, he sat on his throne as a great king and on his head he had a crown with 18 horns and they when throught the great isle of beauty speaking with forked tongues, deceiving the people of the great land..
I can’t help by laugh. for this one have me cracking
Petro Caribe with its fuel tanks built on the BELFAST RIVER BANK, sells fuel from Venezuela and for Venezuela. The DLP Govt. boasted that as a result of the operations of Petro Caribe, fuel (GAS, DIESEL) prices at the pump, as well as Electricity bills would be much lower. You all forget those statements already? Dominicans what are you now witnessing? It is in OUR FACES, Higher Electricity bills, increase in gas and diesel prices. The bigger the LIE and the more often it is told, the more people will readily accept and fall for it, according to Goebbels of the German NAZI Party of Adolph Hitler.
In addition the Minister responsible for Petro Caribe told villagers of Mahaut and Jimmit, Dominicans at large, that Petro Caribe would set up a playing field for the children of the area after cleaning by the seaside at Jimmit where the rubbish dump was located. Yes, a playing field 20 yards from the sea. Can you all imagine that? But many people believed. You all forget those things already? Where is that playing Field? Those Lies were deliberately concocted to get people to accept Petro Caribe establishment and operations. A few in ‘High places’ are making plenty $$$$$$$$$ from Petro Caribe operations. In the meantime, Dominicans are and will be burdened with a massive debt to Venezuela for years and years to come. Who sets the price for a barrel of oil on the world market, Venezuela, Dominica or OPEC? Time is the Reveler. NO LIE COULD LAST FOREVER. Politicians, Govt, and their ilk could fool some of the people sometimes, but could never fool all of the people all of the time.
Just checking the math isn’t Dominica’s currency tied to the US$. Checking with CNN Money review prices have gone up by 0.002 cents. Dominican dollar to the US$ is what EC$2.679 standard rate that does not fluctuate no matter what is taking place on the wider market. And if someone could help refresh my memory when some time ago perhaps earlier in the year or late last year I believe it was Rayburn Blackmoore or Collin McIntyre who stated that higher prices were charged to consumers to cover eventualities of high market prices so that they can afford to buy. That statement and clipping is in a news archive somewhere somebody help and verify.
Cerberus is seriously thinking of going back to his roots and invest in a donkey. No road tax, no tyres to replace and I’;d only have to worry about the price of “grass” and get free manure in return.
All those SUV’s will stay in their garages! NB. when choosing a vehicle, go for a small, compact, low consumption vehicle. Then you will tell me about the roads…..
doh care what vehicle you have you will feel it
Dominican do you all listen to world news. last week gas price drop per barrel for the first time in 6 month the price get below $100 per barrel.
so why is their going to be a hike in the gas price when it suppose to be dropping.
DONT LET THEM FULL YOU
so how come i read on the britsh bbc news site the other day that the cheapest gas in the world at this presant moment, was in caracas, venezula, at 9 cents a liter, yes you red right 9 CENTS, a liter, are we not supposed to be the best of friends with chavez, and why are de chinese allowed to inport there gas from china, and share amoungst dem selves, like them growing all dere own food up there near machoucrie, instead of buy from us local traders on de market, they taking all our money, and not putting it back into the counrty, that another reason de gas prices high, they using our resourses but paying for nothing.
That’s what I dislike about Chinese, they are a liability to any economy.
As far as I can see from the figures given by the PM of petrol prices, Dominica is one of the highest priced.
This man is fooling uneducated people (not persons as you all say in Dominica) with words and figures.
SKERRIT WHEN IT SUITS YOU DOMINICA IS NOT ALONE , WHEN YOU WANT TO SAY HOW GOOD DOMINICA IS , WE ARE THE ONLY ONES IN THE CARIBBEAN DOING WELL ,YOU HAVE DIRECT CONTROL OVER THE BLOODY TAXES YOU IMPOSE ON GAS , WHY NOT REDUCE IT OR FORGO IT FOR A WHILE . YOU ARE SO DECEITFUL !!!!!!
Dominicans Riseeeeeeeeee up, talking getting us nowhere, dem fellas don’t care about our country
It is used to help start repaying our massive loans
well all the gift money he take from chavez and de chinese have to be paid back some how!
My fellow Dominicans there is such a thing called locking price of gas for a period of time. This is commonly done by airline companies. Now, while the following needs to be in place:
1) storage tanks
2) contract arrangement which will require payment upfront
Now, having said the above the government of Dominica can perform a survey on the amount of vehicles on island, and the approximate usage per motorist over a period of a monthly; this information can be extrapolated such that for a year and this information can be used to build storage tanks for purchase of locked in gas prices. I am of the view that given this is a common practice by airlines, and translates into stable ticket price, reduce potential for lay-offs etc. This is a rough draft idea of something the government can pursue to retail bulk fuel to service station, and save motorist from all this fluctuations in gas price irrespective of when the price goes up given the gas was purchase at a lower locked in price.
We need to stop making excuses of what we don’t control and look for practical solutions becuase higher gas price reduce Dominica’s competiviness.
Skerrit please stop telling lies to the foolish people of Dominica. Those of us who are wiser than you for sure know much better. Where is the promise that you made with the installation of the gas tanks in Jimmit. STOP YOUR LIES, THEY KEEP FALLING BACK RIGHT IN YOUR FACE,
My children did I promise oil or soil…
Or did I promise 
Ha Ha Ha… El Dorado… in you dreams… 
Buenos Diaz todos los Dominicanos. El goviermento de Dominica…LOL. Was Dominicans lied to when we were told the ALBA Agreement would bring relief to Dominican consumers of petroleum products? If we were lied to then I feel ashamed for the Dominica Labour Party whose motto is ALL SHALL EAT…SALT.
Have you not heard and/or read the international news? The entire world is experiencing high and increasing fuel costs. As the situation stands there really is not much the Dominica government or any other government for that matter can do.
You are aware of the unrest in the Middle East, those oil-rich countries. They are not functioning as they used to be prior to the unrest. Therefore, the cost of oil/gas/fuel has increased.
We in Canada are experiencing the identical effect. It burns a hole, a dent in our pockets. Yes! It hurts financially.
The Federal and Provincial governments are not able to assist us. As the saying: “We just have to grin and bear it”. Be patient and hope someday this will change. Dominicans are not alone.
I do hope that this will be a source of consolation to you and cease blaming Prime Minister Skerrit.
Some of you blame him for everything.
Good for the governments that are able to subsidize fuel costs. How long could they continue doing so to pacify their nationals?
Get this straight and comprehend it, everything is increasing worldwide while income is not increasing, if not at all. It is a sad price to pay but this is the way it is in this economical and so-called progressive times. Not much has been done for consumers, etc. It is not doom and gloom to state that it will not get better. We are on a path which we have no alternative but to put up with it.
When last you prayed for your PM, your country, nationals and yourself? If you think that everything is achieved without prayer, loving, humble hearts and patience, think again.
And so as I wend my way through the temporary pilgrimage of life, I place my faith, hope and trust in my (our) Lord. What else can we do after all is said and done? God will see us through one way or the other.
Don’t worry! Be happy! All things work for good to those who love God.
He still has control over the taxes imposed on the fuel cost. Don’t be silly. Additionally look at the $EC fluctuation in prices in the Caribbean. what does the say about individual government’s influence on gas prices? Some subsidize, some give the full cost and some add taxes… some things are beyond their control, but not totally out of their control as the PM is alluding to. Don’t Worry! Be Happy? stop your crap.. what happen to the malaway who cannot afford. zo trow mal.
That’s all many people want to do, ‘grin and bear.’
Keep doing that while the rich getting richer and the poor gets poorer. Lost souls!
STop all your bar-bering . STop comparing. at least canada had no deal for preferential treatment with no oil rich nation. you stay in canada and behave ur little self. them man too lie. so much was promised from that petro-carib initiative and so little is delivered.
But I doh blame skerrit them, because is them same ppl here that talking that will vote them again in 2015.
Your WORD was that Petro Caribe would ensure ENSURE that oil prices remianed LOW no matter what. Skerrit
4.50 USD = 12.15 XCD….then since we don’t refine we have to import. The US subsidize the oil companies, s and yet still they are payin as much as $4.50 USD in some places and I saw in the news somehere in FL as high as $6:00
Times are changing
…the U.S.A. Govt. subsidizing oil companies?? Since when have they become a socialist state? But I surrender to Wikileaks’ superior knowledge. What I do know, however is that gasoline is still more affordable to the average American than to us given that their min. wage is U.S.7.25/hr. (=E.C.$.19.48/hr) against our min. wage of E.C.$.5.00/hr.
it is subsidized oil companies receive tax breaks
The minimum wage in the US is US7.25 this equates to EC 19.36. Minimum wage in Dominica is EC5.00.
GO FIGURE!
ok here goes de educated jackass again
I like that, Keeping Them Honest. WIKILEAKS, You there Comparing the oil; price, why dont u compare the wages as well. wicked all you wicked. You all only compare what’s convenient to you all.
this Dude WIKILEAKS is just one of those one track minded idiots from Porssie. The guy just keep making an a hole of himself. It is quite obvious that he doesn’t have a mind of his own. To come in here and make such a comparison is indicatice of a DLP supplicant , desperate to protect the image and lies of his lord and king Skerrit.
Note that he is yet to deal with the fact that the PM and Reggie made a promise to the people that Petro Caribe was here to rescue the country from the status quo -evil gas companies who subsidize speculators to run up the price of gasoline.
This WIKILEAK dude should remain quiet less he makes an A***** of himself.
I am totally aware that the government has no control over the inflation of gas prices…there is no mystery in that…but why would Julius Timophy state that, ” we are currently looking into the problem of rising gas prices,” when he knew there was nothing he or his colleagues could do about it…..How misleading…
WHAT THAT REALLY TURNS ME OFF AND IT IS NOT FAIR IS : I HAVE TO PUT GAS IN MY VEHICLE AT $ 15.00 A GALLON (CAN HARDLY BUY 2 GALLONS AT ONE TIME ) AND I STILL HAVE TO FILL THE BIG SUV’S GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS (NOT SURE WHAT TO CALL THEN ) DRIVE ALL DAY LONG GOING NOWHERE AT THE SAME $ 15.00 A GALLON. .I AM A TAXPAYER .
The DLP Govt. boasted that with PETRO CARIBE coming to Dominica, setting up operations at Jimmit where several FUEL STORAGE TANKS have been built, Electricity, gas and diesel prices would be greatly REDUCED. They told Dominicans that since Petro Caribe would be selling diesel to DOMLEC at a much reduced price, our ELECTRICITY BILLS would NEVER INCREASE. What is the REALITY at PRESENT? Convince us PATRIOTS that the whole thing wasn’t a GIMMICK.
The DLP Govt. fooled the people again when they told us that even though the cost of a barrel of oil on the world market goes up because of Petro Caribe in Jimmit selling fuel from and for Venezuela the cost of gasolene and diesel would remain cheaper and stable. They KNEW, THEY KNEW, THEY KNEW that it is OPEC which sets the prices of a barrel of oil on the market. If they did not know that, it is more PROOF that Skerrit and his DLP ilk is incompetent and unfit to be in Govt. Dominicans were TAKEN FOR a RIDE AGAIN. Many Dominicans jumped up, they were ecstatic, praising the DLP Govt. blindly, not realizing that it was a BIG HOAX. The Dominican People were being FOOLED AGAIN.
How many Dominicans know or have been informed about the HUGE DEBT Dominica owes to Venezuela for fuel as a result of Petro Caribe? So many people have requested time and time again for such information, but to no avail. It is like looking for a needle in a haystack. The opposition, other Dominican PATRIOTS, have been begging Govt. for that info. Probably DNO could assist us in finding out what that HUGE DEBT is.
Our children, our children’s children, our children children’s children will be forever INDEBTED to Petro Caribe and Venezuela. In fact, up to this present day, fooling the people has become NORMAL. Incompetent politicians FOOLING the people AGAIN and AGAIN and AGAIN has become an ACCEPTED NORM in Dominica. The calypsonian, Mighty Sparrow, sang years ago, “WE LIKE IT SO.” TIME WILL TELL. Where FOOLING an entire nation is a deliberate practice, my people, it is FOLLY to be wise and to OPEN your EYES.
Fuel prices is a joke in the Caribbean. Everyone says and blames high oil prices and other factors for the increases in the price of fuel. That may be the case sometimes but what has been seen in the last few years is that the prices only go up they never go down. The price of oil has fluctuated over the last few years so much but fuel prices in Dominica for example has only increased.
Why Why WHy. When the price of oil is so decisive in the increse of the price of fuel. Why does the price of fuel not drop when the price of oil drops?
but where he get those prices there nuh? LOL. Papa bordiay Mr. Doh easy eh…
i got the tmpresion that mr them thos forget what they told dominicans abouy caribe petro.
Skerit you are taking 15% vat on gas that is $2.50 per gallon, there is also import tax, consumption tax adding another $3.00 per gallon. Government is making over $5.00 on every gallon of gas. Give the people a break from TAXES.
so you think skerrit really don’t know these taxes are actually paid for by US ON EACH GALLON OF FUEL!!
WHAT ABOUT ME PAYIN ALMOST $5 US FOR A GALLON OF GAS. DOMINICA HAVE IT EASY!!!!
Next jack a**
de imf pressure on you skerrit,hehehe
u skerrit should have known that and stop misleading the people u told them that the storerage tank at jimit would bring relief to domonica inspite of what
Ppl over there dotish at times. Is liek they dosn’t watch and read news of the world. If they did that they would know that the whole WORLD PAYING MORE FOR GAS!!! Not just D/a ..C’mon ppl get a life
while i agree with what the Hon. Prime Minister have said………he needs to understand the point that people is making. the fact of the natter iss that the countries which is mentioned has a lower unemployment rate than us. they pay to its workers is hier than ours. and they pay less taxes than us. this means that they are better able to buy gas and other comodities at a hire prize than us an dont feel it as we do in Dominica.
if we were making money like them then we would have no problem in paying for our goods and services. but we not making money and paying more for everything.
so what the PM should start consentrate on doing is to reduce the unemploymant rate, increase our monthly pay. and we would have no hard feelings in paying for goods and services sir.
but it cannont be right for us to be getting small wages, and prizes are going up ever so often and government not doing anything about it.
why cant the government subsidize the prize of gas atlist this time so we can say yes they are doing something about it?
telling us that the government has no control over the prize of gas is not doing enough cause what the PM is now telling us is something that we all no already. we need not to be reminded about what the government has or dont have control over. what we need to hear from you mr. prime minister is that the government is doing this or that for its people as it relates to to high cost of gas and cost of living in this country.
that is not to much to ask for sir.
The thing is nlas the government promised them that they would not get so affected because of Petro Caribe. It’s here now and there’s no difference!!!!!!!!!1
But when it goes up on Dominica itt stays up,’
Yea! They suffer from priapism.
Of course, now I understand! We are putting bwa banday in our petrol to make it so expensive!More “oomph” in your tank, more stride in your ride, more bump in your hump! Why are we complaining?
LOL @ malatete. @ Nlas.. u more dotish for that comment.
Ppl over there dotish at times. Is liek they dosn’t watch and read news of the world. If they did that they would know that the whole WORLD PAYING MORE FOR GAS!!!
Why can’t he tell us how much the government is collecting as consumption tax per galloon . Tell us that when you use the flexible price mechanism thats establish throughout the oecs the higher the price per barrel the more revenue government collects.
Thus the increase in government revenue resulting from the higher cost per barrel , could be use to cushion aginst the increase retail price.
Alternatively the government can simply reduce its rate of consumption tax per galloon. Mr. Prime minister a reduction of tax is not subsidizing .
Mr. Prime minister are you saying that if international prices continues to surge you will not reduce the taxes on fuel.
Gas prices affects everyone so use the money in the red clinic to cushion the retail price.
IDIYAT!!!!! I’M PAYING ALMOST $5 A GALLON FOR GAS HERE IN NEW JERSEY!!! SHUT UP!!!!!!!!!
DOMINICAN IS NOT EXEMPT FROM THE WORLD CRISIS ON HIGH GAS PRICES. THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE DOMINICAN GOV.. YOU PPL ARE DOTISH!!!!!!!
You need to do some research or try educate your self while you are still in new jersy waiting to married for papers. Be mindful that this idiyat has a Maters degree in economics.
Are you to smart to comment on the real issues . oh are you saying that the government don’t have control over their on taxes that they impose on the consumption of fuel.
why did obama sanction a comittee to investigate the US oil market . why did he not say is because of the world crisis . seems like you don’t even know what happening in ur own environment.
READ SMART ARZZ
When oil goes up in the US gas goes up and when oil goes down gas goes down. when it goes up in the caribbean it is up and when it goes down it is still up. YOU DAMN FOOL.
LMFAO @ WAITING TO MARRY FOR PAPERS!!! I DONT NEED THAT FRIEND IM LEGAL HERE IN THE STATES.
STAY IN DOMINICA AND BARK ABOUT THE GOV . THAT’S GOOD YOU HAVE A MASTERS IN ECON TOO BAD YOU SITTING ON YOUR ASS BARKING AT THE GOV WHILE YOU COULD DO SOMETHING FOR YOUR COUNTRY. I INVEST IN DOMINICA I COME BACK DA EVERY 4 OR 5 MONTHS I GOT 3 STORES DOWN THERE AND SOON TO OPEN ANOTHER ONE IN POSSIE MORE POWER TO THE DOMINICAN PEOPLE I EMPLOY. ANYWAYS ILL WAIT FOR MY PAPERS TO LET YOU KNOW MORE LOL
dat is cheap
USD $2 a litre in the UK
now price it in gallons, I dont even want to do it..
liar liar pants on fire
please lets try to have a healthy discution here my friend. its not about personalizing. what the PM said is true. and note the words “THE GOVERNMENT HAS NO CONTROL OVER THE PRIZE OF GAS.” meaning that its not the government who increase gas prizes in the world. This is not news to us. BUT THAT DOSENT MEAN THAT THE GOVERNMENT CANNOT DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
in his own own words he said “IN ANTIGUA THE PRIZE FOR A GALLON OF GAS IS $13.99 BUT THE GOVERNMENT THERE IS SUBSIDIZING THE PRIZE THERE”. now mark you Antigua is now going through a stabilization and structural adjustment program with the IMF and they are still able to ezz the pain on their peoples back. dominica has gone through its program already, government boast of a 3% grove in the economy and government still cannot do anything about it? common. so while i agree with the Hon. Prime Minister that government has no control about the increse in the prize on the world market but government has control over the increase at the pumps if you do what you inform us the government of Antigua is doing.
With all what all you saying, the bottom line is PETRO CARIBE. We were promised that our gas prices will not be affected because of the gas at Jimmit. Dominicans you forget too quick.
The min. wage in Antigua is also E.C.7.50/hr (as against our E.C.5.00/hr). ! And we do have some measure of influence by curtailing the profits made on fuel sales by our own, Govt. owned Dominica National Petroleum Company, headed by Mr. Austrie. What happens to these profits by the way?
Don’t you know there are massive loans to repay
all developing countries have massive loans to repay… ur point?