Gas Prices Take Another Hike; Taxi Drivers Worried

At the stroke of midnight on Tuesday, fuel prices at the pump went up for a second time in less than a month. As the fiscal year kicked in, on April first, premium gasoline, regular and diesel went up on the heels of an announcement by the Prime Minister during his budget presentation that eighty million dollars in tax revenues will be generated, fuel taxes included.  It is not quite there yet, but in July of 2011, the prices for premium and regular fuel went up to record highs.  The most recent figures are as follows: regular gasoline went up by forty-seven cents from nine dollars and seventy-nine cents to ten dollars and twenty-six cents. Diesel also went up by twenty-eight cents to nine dollars and thirty-eight cents while kerosene went up by fourteen cents. Premium fuel on the other hand, went down by twenty-one cents from ten dollars and seventy-nine cents to ten dollars and fifty-eight cents. Today, News Five found out that aside from commuters, who use their personal vehicles to get around; the increase prices at the pumps threaten the livelihood for taxi operators.

Nick Bevans

Nick Bevans, MCC Taxi Cooperative

“It affects us as taxi drivers because we at MCC Taxi Cooperative, our prices do not change so we have to take the loss, not the commuters.”

Duane Moody

“We’ve seen that since the beginning of the year, there has been a constant increase. Is there a fear that this is going to go up to the levels that it did a couple years ago, over eleven dollars for the gallon?”

Nick Bevans

“Definitely there is a fear and we hope the government can do something about it to stop it because our investment as taxi drivers, gas is our biggest investment.”

Duane Moody

“Now this is your livelihood. Do you feel that it is threatening that; that you might have to come out of business because it is just not working and it is hurting your pocket?”

Nick Bevans

“Well there is a possibility that that might happen, but I hope not.”