Immediate impact seen- Skelton-Cline

Speaking on his show Honestly Speaking on ZBVI 780 AM on March 15, 2022, Skelton-Cline said residents were complaining that gasoline prices at service stations were as high as $5.75 a gallon on Saturday and Sunday but he said as soon as Premier and Minister of Finance Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) addressed the issue in a live broadcast to the territory on Sunday night, March 13, 2022, gas prices went from $5.75 to as low as $5.25.

“So it did have an impact. It may not have had all of the comprehensive compliments that need to be had but there seems to have been some impact,” Skelton-Cline stated.

Premier had stated in his address to the territory that a task force will be monitoring the prices at service stations and supermarkets in an attempt to protect consumers from price gouging, as some businesses have already 'unjustifiably' hiked their prices.

"I send this stern warning that government is watching and is hereby strongly recommending that persons refrain from unethical business practices," Premier Fahie had said.

The Premier's appeal was directed to those businesses in the Virgin Islands that have not received new stock since the recent military events began in Europe but have already increased prices with the current stock at hand and have claimed that the prices of their latest shipment of goods have increased.

According to Skelton-Cline, the focus, for now, should be on the petrol companies that have storage, since they should not have an immediate need to hike their prices.

Monitor service stations with large ‘storage’ facilities

And, according to Skelton-Cline, the focus, for now, should be on the petrol companies that have storage, since they should not have an immediate need to hike their prices.

“And I am telling you, Sol and Delta [Petroleum] in particular are the only two gas stations with storage in this country and that is what needs to be looked into. The independent gas stations who have to purchase fuel weekly, that’s a different situation,” Skelton-Cline stated, adding that he will hold his peace on that for now.