The increase in the petrol price at the pumps on 14th May 2007 is another sign of the crumbling economics of the ULP regime. The ULP regime promised the nation cheap petrol under the Petro-Caribe agreement, but again we have high prices. The people of SVG would like to know what has happened to this Petro-Caribe agreement. Has the ULP regime failed to maintain their part of the agreement?

We just cannot have any confidence in the spoken and written word of the incompetent ULP regime. How can businesses and families plan and manage their budgets when the ULP regime keeps changing and raising prices. Everyone knows that the most important part of managing an economy is to keep prices stable. The ULP regime, however, are clearly oblivious to the very basics of competent economic management. We can only assume that the Petro-Caribe agreement is not worth the paper it is written on and the ULP regime has grossly misled the nation again.

There will be significant and far reaching effects with this fuel increase. Are we going to see another increase in bus fares? Are we going to see another increase in electricity prices? The cost of living in SVG is spiralling upwards – VAT, fuel price increases…what next? How much are the citizens of SVG expected to suffer before the ULP admit they have no idea?

The ULP regime is embarrassing the SVG nation in the eyes of the world. We have to ask ourselves is this the best we can do for our country? Is this the best we can do to give our children a bright and sustainable future? No, clearly no.

The increase is another desperate measure by the incompetent ULP regime to impose yet more tax. This will adversely affect all sections of society, but the poor will be worst affected. It will cost bus drivers more to transport people. It will see the cost of transporting bananas go up. The cost of transporting sand and other building equipment will go up. This may lead to a rise in the price of cement, slowing down the construction industry in SVG and making it even more expensive to build a house. Fisherman will have to pay more to fuel their boats and so fish price is likely to increase. We will ultimately see a shrinkage in the volume of business done and the economy being damaged further.

The bottom line is that the ULP regime does not have the capacity to competently run the economy. The ill-considered and uncaring decision to increase the petrol price only confirms that the ULP government does not have the interests of the majority of citizens, who are poor and struggling desperately to make ends meet, at heart. If the government persists in pressing ahead with these indefensible price hikes, they will be inviting adverse reactions. People’s wages are being seriously devalued by VAT and fuel price increases. We need a general election to oust incompetence and improve peoples’ lives. Do not wait until crime and unmanageable poverty affects you or your loved ones - call for a general election now.