Conservation May Be An Answer

The continuing exorbitant price of fuel, especially gasoline, is a source of much concern to motorists in Anguilla and there are similar complaints in other islands of the Caribbean region. The situation has resulted from a general increase in market prices but on the international scene the cost of fuel, though up, is still far below the price in this area.

The present retail fuel price in Anguilla for gasoline at the pump supplied by Sol (formerly Shell Antilles) is $13.86 per gallon and diesel is $9.48 per gallon. Comparative prices of fuel from Delta Petroleum at the pump are $13.70 per gallon for gasoline and $9.40 per gallon for diesel at one station and $13.80 and $9.49 respectively at another such retail outlet. Generally, the price of gasoline on the island jumped from around $10.00 per gallon to the present cost over the past fortnight or so. There have been fears of a further increase in prices but so far this has not occurred.
The increase in fuel prices followed the recent hurricane activity and damage in the United States and the impact on refineries and other factors of the oil industry.
A spokesman for one of the suppliers in Anguilla said the next shipment of fuel to the island should be in two to three weeks. He stated that the indications were that prices were declining and it was likely that when the new shipment is received it would cost less to the consumer provided there were no further increases in the world market.
Meanwhile, it is known that some motorists on the island have been cutting down on their travel in an effort to reduce the gasoline bills. According to one of them, conservation may be the answer to the spiraling cost of fuel for the time being until the price drops. “Drive less and save on gas,” he advised.

The Sol Gas Station on Albert Lake's Drive

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