Senior Reporter
kevon.felmine@guardian.co.tt
With several increases in the price of fuel over the past decade, taxi drivers, motorists, commuters and businesses are anxious that fuel prices remain unchanged following Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo’s first national budget presentation.
Tancoo has been notably guarded in his recent remarks about fuel prices and the subsidy, offering no assurance when asked directly whether they would rise. However, he hinted that not everyone would be “the happiest of the happy” after the budget, and suggested that public dissatisfaction could be seen as “unpatriotic,” citing the difficult economic conditions inherited from the previous administration.
Taxi drivers warn that any tampering with the subsidy will inevitably lead to higher fares. Commuters say they are already struggling to meet daily expenses, especially after several fare increases since the COVID-19 pandemic. Fuel prices were last raised in September 2022, marking the sixth increase in seven years under the former government.
As of October 2025, super gasoline sells at $6.97 per litre, premium gasoline at $7.75, and diesel at $4.41. These prices have remained unchanged since 2022
Drivers: “We Need to Survive”
San Fernando to Chaguanas taxi driver Trevor Salvary said an increase in the price of fuel would cripple his operations, given already high food prices. He urged the government to keep the subsidy in place.
“It will be very hard for us, brother, because the economy is already hard, so if the government decides to add to the hardship we are already facing, it is going to get worse, and we do not need it to be worse. We need to survive,” Salvary said.
He warned that commuters would ultimately bear the burden, noting that if wages remained stagnant, workers would suffer most.
Vice president of the Gasparillo Taxi Drivers Association, Ricardo Guy, shared the view, saying drivers would have no choice but to adjust fares if fuel prices rise. He recalled three fare fluctuations during the COVID-19 pandemic due to public health restrictions, which saw prices increases by between $9 to $15. He said commuters would again be the ones most affected, as all other costs continue to rise.
Guy believes one solution lies in converting vehicles to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). He urged the government to revive the National Gas Company’s “Switch and Save” campaign, which once fully funded conversion costs for public transport operators.
“That is a good thing when it comes to taxis, but not everybody has that. I wish CNG could come back, free for taxis. In the early days, I heard you were getting free. Now you have to pay for it,” Guy said.
Guy, who already owns a CNG-powered vehicle, said it performs well and is far cheaper to refill.
Commuters Fear Rising Costs
For commuters, even the thought of higher fuel prices bring anxiety. La Romaine resident Josiah Francois said he spends $38 daily travelling from home to work in Point Lisas, almost $760 per month.
“It will take a lot out of my pay. That would be really hard on us,” Francois said.
He said higher fares would mean less disposable income, and hopes fuel prices go down instead.
Supermarket worker Adrian Lynch said current fuel prices are already stretching his budget. Travelling between Gasparillo and San Fernando costs him $24 daily, more than $200 each week.
“There is nothing I could do if it rises,” he said, adding that he hopes fuel prices remain stable.
Business community cautions against hike
President of the Greater San Fernando Chamber of Commerce, Kiran Singh, said now may not be the right time to increase fuel prices, as several adjustments in recent years have already raised transportation costs. He said higher fuel prices and limited wage growth have reduced disposable income thereby stifling commercial activity.
He noted that stable fuel prices are critical for businesses since transport costs affect every level of trade: from ports to warehouses and storefronts. Companies must then decide whether to absorb the additional cost or pass it on to consumers.
“We have to be very careful in this current economy in terms of how certain prices are adjusted and affect the factors of production that go into the overall productivity of the country. We remain wary and hopeful that it will be taken into consideration while the minister is preparing to present the budget on Monday,” Singh said.
Over the last decade, T&T spent approximately $20 billion on fuel subsidies. Singh said this high expenditure reflects public consumption, but added that the solution lies in improving the efficiency and reach of public transport systems, such as the Public Transport Service Corporation and the Water Taxi Service.
He proposed better scheduling, additional routes, enhanced security, digital ticketing, and park-and-ride hubs to encourage motorists to leave their vehicles at home. Singh also recommended expanding the Water Taxi service to Point Fortin, with weekend and holiday sailings to ease traffic and reduce fuel demand.
