More Pain at the Pump! How Are Belizeans Coping?

Belizean motorists are facing another hit at the pump, with regular gasoline now selling for $14.28 per gallon after a 67-cent increase.

Premium gasoline is now $14.53 per gallon. The latest prices took effect at midnight on October 2, adding further pressure on motorists already adjusting their spending and travel habits.

For some Belizeans, the higher cost of fuel means making fewer trips and planning daily errands more carefully.

One Belmopan resident said the rising cost of fuel means making fewer trips to the shop and planning purchases more carefully. “You can’t run to the shop for every bag of flour you need. You have to really plan and, you know, go out. We do have to make some adjustments.”

A Belize City resident said they have similarly changed their routine, including limiting trips to the store. “If you used to go to the shop and you forget something, you go back again. So you have to try and make a list. You don’t go to the shop once, two times a day because now you have to make one trip.”

The resident also said fuel is also taking a significant portion of their earnings, leaving less money for other expenses. “I had to cut back on a lot of my lifestyle. So I stopped going out at night. I stopped eating out. It’s been rough.”

Some motorists say temporary relief at the pump would make a difference. “Less tax is always good. I’m sure the government must be able to do something,” one Belmopan resident said.

Another Belize City resident called temporary relief “a big help”, while another said reducing the cost of fuel could particularly benefit low-income families and businesses facing high transportation costs.

Bus operators have already secured a government fuel subsidy amid rising costs, but private motorists and other businesses continue to face higher prices at the pump.

Some motorists are suggesting a temporary relief system similar to GST-free weekends, particularly during high-travel periods, like Christmas and Easter.