Soaring gas prices worry motorists

With fuel prices climbing by roughly $15 per litre in just weeks amid turmoil in the Middle East, some taxi operators in the Corporate Area are now pleading for government intervention to soften the blow.

A litre of 87 octane is being sold for about $188 and 90 octane for $195 at some petrol stations. Diesel is being sold for an average of $220 per litre.

For taxi operator Andrew Whittick, he would rather pay reduced prices at the pump than charge increased fares.

"We on the road every day. If gas a $188, when a red plate man go pan the pump him can pay $150 or $160, something manageable instead of the raise," he said.

He proposed a system where licensed operators could be identified and granted discounted rates.

"Even if they give we a card or something, when them see say a red plate, we get a discount."

Whittick's suggestion reflects a broader impact of the Iran war on fuel prices as fears of disrupted oil supplies drive up crude costs and, in turn, fuel prices at the pump. The cabbie said that transport operators have been forced to absorb these costs.

"[It] terrible bad," Whittick said. "We nah make nothing cause the gas high."

He said what once allowed drivers to earn is now barely covering expenses.

"When it was like $167 [per litre] $3,000 could give you half tank, and me make something with that. But now gas prices gone up to $188, and $190 in some places, so $3,000 gas can't do nothing."

The imbalance, he explained, is forcing difficult choices. "The money we a make off it caah add up back fi make interest. It nuh make nuh sense."

Despite this, he is reluctant to support fare increases. "At the end of the day, it nuh make nuh sense you bawl say gas too dear and raise fare pan people when so much people a suffer already," he reasoned.

"Nuff people a take taxi and dem don't even have the fare."

Another taxi operator, Ramon Wellington, warned that fare increases may still become unavoidable if fuel prices continue to climb.

"If we follow this gas price, fare gone a five bills ($500)," he said, noting that the current fare on the route he plys is $200.

He also pointed to the hidden costs of keeping passengers comfortable.

"Caah make the passenger dem bun up," he said, explaining that air conditioning must remain on while loading, further increasing fuel consumption.

Still, he believes the root of the issue lies beyond Jamaica.

"Nuh way nuh deh fi go round this. The only thing them can do a stop the war," he said. "Yuh see how one man foolish decision affect everybody cross the board?"

For private motorists, the squeeze is also reshaping daily life. As rising gas prices continue to bite, one woman says she is now paying more but getting far less fuel.

"At the beginning of every month, $8,200 would give me about 26 litres and last me two weeks. Now $10,000 gives me like 20 litres," she said.

"I find myself going on the road less now... . I bring lunch every day this week instead of buying."

She now plans fuel purchases around payday.

"I was looking at my gas tank this morning and said 'nope, I can't top up until payday'."

She believes the upward trend is unlikely to reverse soon. "It will only continue going up until the conflict is resolved."

The rising cost of energy is also affecting household expenses beyond transportation, with some consumers reporting fewer kilowatt hours for similar prepaid electricity purchases compared to earlier this year.