South drivers: Fares will raise in due course

“Three years ago I paid $100 to fill my tank and this increased to $120 and now it costs $150,” he said. Sonnylal said he owned a 25-seater maxi taxi but he had no choice but to sell it, since it was difficult to get a trip. He now owns a seven-seater taxi. Jeffrey Edwards who works the Chaguanas / San Fernando route says there has not been a big increase in the price of diesel but he expects that drivers will be lobbying to increase the fares in due course.

Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Curepe Taxi Drivers Association, Elton George, says with the increase in the price of diesel, the rich will get richer and the poor will get poorer.

“The rich man does not have to put out more money when they are filling their tanks at the gas station but poorer man has to find the money to pay and increased price.

Business people are also contemplating what impact the higher diesel price and the current recession would have on their businesses and customers.

Dominic Deonarine of DG’s Jewellery, High Street, San Fernando, says sales have been at an all-time low even in the lead-up to Divali. “Clearly people are buying the necessities and saving their money,” he said. He noted that with the downturn in the economy, the price of gold has remained stagnant.

However, he says, people are still not buying as before. He also said that in September he was expecting good business in the leadup to school re-opening but customers spent wisely.

Ryan Ramberran, who sells sweets and Indian delicacies at Eden Centre, High Street, San Fernando, is not happy with the business generated in recent months.

“Sales have been very slow. Even at the end of the month people are not spending their money to buy these products,” he says noting that there has been a decrease in the flow of people to the mall.