$2.50 Diesel Price Leap Hits Every Corner of Belize

Diesel jumped two dollars and fifty cents overnight, on top of last week’s hikes in regular and premium, and that shock is already rippling from island routes to the cane fields. Water taxi operators have asked the Port Authority to approve a fuel surcharge, and Caribbean Sprinter has already added two dollars to in‑person tickets while steering riders to its app ahead of the Easter rush. On the highways, the National Bus Company says it will absorb the diesel hit for now to hold fares steady, even as other operators brace for higher costs. News Five’s Paul Lopez is tracking how this spike hits your wallet next.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

Diesel jumped two‑fifty overnight, and that spike is already rippling through the transport and productive sectors. It comes just a week after sharp hikes in regular and premium fuel, and now water taxi operators have asked the Port Authority to approve a fuel surcharge, a move that appears all but guaranteed.

 

Kaylon Young, Ports Commissioner, Belize Port Authority

“It is important to realize the impact this will have on the water taxi operators that we regulate. The water taxi operators have been looking at this and have made request to the Belize Port Authority to see how we can assist or what can be done to assist them with the cost or the fares.”

 

Caribbean Sprinter announced on social media that in‑person ticket purchases will now cost two dollars more, while commuters can still get cheaper fares through its Sail Sprinter app, just as island travel picks up ahead of the Easter rush.

 

Kaylon Young

“I am just urging the public to understand the situation. It is something we are all facing and beyond our control. To get to the island the vessels need fuel. The catamaran we love to ride on operate on diesel. The monohulls operate on gasoline.”

 

Commissioner Young says any water taxi fare hike should be temporary. And it’s not just boat operators feeling the squeeze, bus operators are bracing too. Transport Minister Louis Zabaneh says the National Bus Company will absorb the diesel increase for now, meaning NBC commuters won’t see higher fares, at least for the moment.

 

Dr. Louis Zabaneh, Minister of Transport

“No, no we are hopeful that this will be transitory in the sense that hopefully the situation in the gulf with the war in Iran, hopefully that can be brought to a close soon. As you know one of the big rational, factors behind us having one company is the economies of scale. With economies of scale, we are able to purchase in bulk and get reduced cost on input, that also includes fuel and tires, etc.”

 

But how will the fourteen bus operators that have not subscribed to the National Bus Company fare off with the increased cost of diesel? Transport Minister Zabaneh says they decided not to join the movement.

 

Dr. Louis Zabaneh

“They decided to not be a part of NBC because they felt confident that they could operate on their own, and I respect. So, I am hopeful that not only can they operate on their own, but that they will do what is necessary to improve their services.”

 

Across the productive sector, the sugar industry is also feeling the hit, since most of its heavy machinery and pickup trucks run on diesel. Sugar remains Belize’s top agricultural earner, and tonight BSCFA executive member Alfredo Ortega says farmers are more uncertain than ever.

 

Alfredo Ortega, Chairman, BSCFA

“It is very tough because what the farmers are getting right now in the payment for harvesting, before this increase of fuel prices was really a burden on farmers and with this increase the burden gets greater it is really rough for farmers. As you know, once fuel prices increase everything on the market increases. We thought it was a joke, because for many years this is the first time it has risen by two dollars and fifty cents per gallon.”

 

Ortega is urging the government to give farmers financial relief as diesel costs climb. For now, transport operators, farmers, and consumers are all feeling the squeeze, and everyone’s hoping global tensions ease so fuel prices can finally settle. Reporting for News Five, I’m Paul Lopez.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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