For over four years, Saint Lucians have endured the highest fuel prices in the OECS and it’s no accident. It’s the direct result of short-sighted policy decisions made by the Philip J. Pierre administration, particularly the removal of the fuel price cap of $13.95 put in place by the Allen Chastanet-led government.
Today, while our OECS neighbours pay significantly less at the pump, Saint Lucians are being burdened with a staggering $16.50 per gallon. Compare that to Antigua at $14.50, Dominica at $13.90, Grenada at $14.09, St. Kitts at $12.76, and St. Vincent at $14.61. These islands are all smaller than Saint Lucia, with lower fuel consumption, yet they manage to keep fuel costs more affordable for their citizens.
The implications of this are not just felt at the pump, they ripple through the entire economy. Higher fuel prices mean increased electricity bills, more expensive public transportation and rising costs for goods and services across the board. Every market vendor, minibus operator, small business owner and working-class parent is now feeling the squeeze.
When the UWP introduced the $13.95 cap, it was done to protect the people of Saint Lucia from volatile global prices. It was a measure rooted in empathy, stability and economic sense. The Labour Party removed that cap without a care, without cushioning the impact and now the cost of living continues to spiral.
This is not just a financial burden. It’s a failure of leadership.
In a time when governments around the world are doing what they can to ease the burden on their citizens, the Saint Lucia Labour Party has done the opposite. Their refusal to intervene in fuel pricing has only deepened the economic hardship Saint Lucians face daily.
The question must now be asked: how much more can our people take?
Saint Lucians deserve a government that puts their well-being first. A government that makes tough decisions in the interest of the many, not the few. Fuel is not a luxury, it’s a lifeline. When it becomes unaffordable, everything else begins to collapse.
It’s time for serious answers and immediate action. #PierrePaBon
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