SLP asks how the poor benefits
By Rebecca Miller

A communiqué allegedly released by the leader of the Opposition SLP last Thursday, Dr. Kenny Anthony, says that, a statement by the Minister for Economic Affairs which suggested that the poor will benefit from the recently announced increases in fuel, was “reckless, callous and betrays astonishing insensitivity to consumers. The increases are oppressive and unfair.”
Noting, the price of unleaded gas which has risen by 34.2%, diesel by 45.7%, kerosene by 113.46%, the 20lb cylinder of cooking gas by 17% and the 100lb cylinder by 40% including the 95% increase in Airport Departure Taxes, the release states: “Never before have consumers had to endure such arbitrary and significant increases in the price of fuel.” It also states, “There can be no reasonable justification to increase the price of kerosene from $5.20 to $11.10 per gallon. If, kerosene is consumed in small quantities, why increase it? How then are poor St Lucians going to cope, since many are unable to pay for electricity and must rely on kerosene?”
At a recent press conference, when the said Minister was asked what provision was made for the poorest of people on the island as a result of the aforementioned increases Minister Ausbert D’Auvergne said, “St Lucians have to understand the context in which we are operating. We have addressed the issues of the poorest by keeping down the price considerably.”

He explained that prices at supermarkets were on the increase because of the importation of goods which are not manufactured locally. Hence, the government’s implementations of the subsidy method in order to sooth the inflation on behalf of the poorest among the nation. As far as the gas prices are concerned, D’Auvergne said that already the government has subsidized the 20lb LPG by $15.26 and the 100lb cylinder by $30.31. Interestingly, no mention was made of kerosene which is used by mainly the poorest of people.
Meanwhile, the opposition has suggested that the increases made by the Prime Minister are substantial and the “consequences will be a sudden jump in inflation.”
“It is little wonder that some have concluded that the single greatest achievement of the UWP over the past year is fuelling of inflation, and the escalation of food and fuel prices,” the release states.