Berbicians were relieved yesterday when they turned up at gas stations in New Amsterdam and at other parts of the county to discover that the price for fuel had dropped.
Government announced the new price for fuel during last week but owners of gas stations in Berbice said they only benefited from the new prices on Sunday.
Yesterday, consumers were pleased. The price for kerosene oil at Mohabir’s Gas Station was dropped from $940 to $666 per gallon and gasoline from $209 to $165 per litre.
At a Shell Service Station, the owner said the price for gas was now $178 instead of $237 per litre and that which was sold at $243 is now being sold at $181 per litre. He said, “Shell did not drop the price for kerosene as yet so we selling at the old price.”
This newspaper spoke to a few drivers yesterday and they were very happy that about the reduction. The owner of a private car said, “The drop is very good; at least I would be able to take my family out on trips and so.
“Before, I had to try and conserve on fuel; there was no spending power with persons. At least I know that this would be a positive impact on our economy.”
The driver of a hire car commented: “This is something we were all waiting for and I am so happy that it finally drop…”
Asked whether he would be reducing his fare as a result, the man responded at first: “Well I does normally flex with passengers; when they don’t have the full fare to pay me I does tek whatever they have.”
Another driver told this newspaper, “Well I didn’t know about the new price, I am now coming to buy gas. But if the price indeed drop, then I would definitely reduce the fare.”
A woman who visited Mohabir’s Gas Station to purchase kerosene told Stabroek News that she did not know that the price had already been dropped and said she would be able to “get more use out of my money.”
She said too, “I am very happy that the price was dropped because the country is already facing the rise in food prices. When I come here then I know about the new price and I think that once the fuel price drop the price for other items would drop as well.”
According to a pensioner, 82-year-old Cedric Leitch, he would normally purchase eight gallons of kerosene for the month but because of the increase, he had to reduce that amount to five. He was pleased that now he would be able to purchase his full amount.
As a pensioner, he said, it was difficult for him to pay his electricity bills and “as soon as you slip they cut out you light. They ain’t gat no discretion; they just cut it off so I does use the kero to cook and burn lamp.”
He too did not know that the price had been reduced and said when he got back change he kept looking at it and was wondering if they made a mistake. When he inquired, he learned that the kerosene oil now costs less.
