Panton Demands Government Relief as Diesel Nears Sixteen Dollars

As diesel prices climb to record highs and edge closer to sixteen dollars per gallon, Opposition Leader Tracy Panton is calling on Belizeans to speak out and demand action from the government. Panton argues that soaring fuel costs are squeezing families and businesses alike, while driving up the cost of transportation, tourism and production across the country. She maintains that the Briceño administration must step in to provide relief before consumers bear an even heavier burden.

 

Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition

“We cannot survive. Diesel is actually approaching $16 a gallon, and I cannot for the life of me understand why people continue to remain complacent, com- continue to be quiet. Some say because they fear, uh, the kind of victimization that will come from the government. But we can look all around us in this region where the people have mobilized to say to their governments, “We’re sorry, you have to do something to, to reduce the costs.” Um, government has to absorb some of it because we need to make sure that we remain competitive as a developing nation, that our productive sector can work. Our tourism sector is down 30% right now. I was speaking to one of the local airline transportation providers yesterday who says, “30% down. We’re 30% down.” and the cost of doing business, the cost of aviation in Belize is escalating and it has an impact on how people travel. So tourism, the productive sector, the services sector, the transportation sector all takes a major hit, and ultimately, Shane, the person who pays is the consumer. And already I said in my Independence Day speech, families are faced with impossible decisions. It is clear to me that the People’s United Party under John Briceño have lost their way, no longer prioritize the people of this country, and are, are impotent when it comes to finding solutions to the real issues that we’re facing in this country.”

 

Diesel now costs more than US$6.50 per gallon in the United States, driven by supply shortages linked to the war in Iran.

 

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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