PARKOP CALLS FOR MORE TO BE DONE ON RISING FUEL PRICES

 

INCREASING FUEL PRICE IS A BIG WORRY

NCD Governor Powes Parkop.

By Claudia Tally

WHILE the government’s move to temporarily suspend tax on selected items is welcomed, the increase in fuel prices has triggered a worrying spike in the cost of public transport as businesses and the public struggle to survive the tough economy.

The reality in Port Moresby today is public transport buses have imposed a 100 percent increase in bus fares from K1 to K2 as the swift increase of the fuel cost in the space of just one month continues to drain their pockets.

In early February this year the cost of one litre of petrol was K4.50 and today, the same litre costs K5.50.

National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop raised concerns on these tough realities, calling on the government to urgently address the rising cost of fuel in the country.

Mr Parkop said: “We need to deal with the problem which is the high cost of fuel. The increase in bus fare now will make the impact of the GST (Goods and Services Tax) suspension meaningless to the majority of our people.

“We need to come with up with a coherent strategy that can enable us to provide cheaper fuel to the public. That is the key. Otherwise, the high price of fuel will increase the price of goods and services everywhere thereby negating the benefits of the GST suspension to the public.”

Such is the plight for taxi driver Sen Joseph, who has been supporting his wife and daughter with his earnings for the past 6 years.

Fuel at the pump is rising.

Mr Joseph from Enga province said that due to the increase in the price of fuel over the past month, he has struggled to make money and has been forced to increase taxi fares just so he could have at least a K100 to bring home to his wife and child.

Mr Joseph shared that, “we taxi drivers cannot make money these days. Previously I spend K30 for 10 litres of petrol that keeps me running for one day. Today I spend an extra K22 for the same petrol at the price of K52 and I have not been making any money. I used to bring home at the end of the day about K200 but now even on my busy days I bring home K100 to sustain me, my wife and our daughter.”

Further to that, Mr Joseph, on behalf of taxi and bus drivers in the city called on the government to address the issue of rising fuel prices as the public transport sector provides an important service to people in the city.

Governor Parkop who raised the matter on the floor of the previous parliament sitting last month, presented three recommendations to be considered which includes; firstly, helping Puma Energy to get more crude oil locally from Kutubu at a lower price; secondly, negotiating with countries like Venezuela to buy crude oil at lower prices and thirdly removing excise tax on fuel directly subsidizing fuel cost so public transport operators do not have to increase their fees.

In Port Moresby, the NCDC will be launching a public transport service to help assist the travelling public and will also seek to partner with local PMV operators in this key service.

 

PMVs at Gordon in Port Moresby.