For what can only be described as inequitable, unfortunately there really is no such thing as a cheap or competitive flight price on flights within the Caribbean, or to the Caribbean these days. Whilst fuel prices are increasing, regional taxes account for 50 per cent of the cost of regional fares and for individuals visiting from the United Kingdom, there is the financial burden of the astronomically high Air Passenger Duty (APD) tax to take into account.

People are being told to brace for price hikes at supermarkets and other stores after a major shipping company upped its rates on Sunday.

Opposition Member of Parliament for St Philips North Robin Yearwood said the drop in fuel prices doesn’t go far enough and called for greater transparency in the pass-through mechanism.

LIAT CEO Brian Challenger has stoutly defended the airline’s re-introduction of a fuel surcharge on passenger fares, beginning yesterday.

Despite receiving an increase in their margins following the hike to record prices at the pumps, service station dealers say they are not happy.

Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) governor Sir K Dwight Venner is predicting that the price of fuel at pumps in Antigua and Barbuda

Gasoline and diesel prices are going up for the second time in two months. From tomorrow, gasoline increases by $2.46 and will sell for $16.45 per gallon, while diesel will cost $15.75, a jump of $1.76.

“It was much larger than we expected. It was a great success.”

A Caribbean Development Bank representative is proposing that the Antigua & Barbuda government and others in the region take a serious look at ways of cushioning the impact of rising fuel prices on residents.

At $13.99, the price of gasoline and diesel will be the highest it has ever been in Antigua & Barbuda come tomorrow. The price of cooking gas will not change.