The government has revealed that customs service, as well as freight and insurance costs, may be removed to reduce fuel costs in the country. PM Roosevelt Skerrit said his administration is currently working out the best approach to reduce fuel costs without passing the buck on consumers.
The DLP leader said his government is interfacing with the private sector to analyze how consumers may benefit more from reducing fuel costs. He said his administration is working for the people and Dominicans must be the direct beneficiaries of all government policies.
We are doing the analysis; we will engage the private sector…because the key for this, when the government takes those decisions…is that the benefit is passed onto the consumers.
Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit, Prime Minister of Dominica
The prime minister said that customs service charge on petroleum products is currently set at 3%, and removing this charge among others may bring down the cost of gas in Dominica. He recalled that some years ago, the government removed excise tax and customs service charge on LPG and kerosene to make them cheap and affordable.
Some weeks back, Trade Director Matthan Walter clarified that the high prices of gas in the country is influenced by the Russian invasion of Ukraine which impacted gas prices globally. Dominica imports gas from other countries, and global unrests are likely to affect fuel prices in the country.
On March 11, prices of petroleum products increased from $13.95 per gallon of gasoline to $14.89, diesel from $12.95 to $13.91, kerosene $11.31 to $12.81, and LPG from $37.85 to $39.
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