Latest update March 29th, 2024 12:59 AM
Oct 15, 2008 News
Despite the consistent downward spiral of prices of oil on the world market — US$84 per barrel from an all time high of US$147 per barrel– the prices at the fuelling stations throughout Guyana has not felt the ripple effect.
The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has said that the Excise Tax for gasoline has increased from seven per cent to 20 per cent and the tax levied against dieseline had increased from zero per cent to 14 per cent.
This increase in excise tax was effected every since September 4.
The directive for the increase emanated from the office of the Minister of Finance, Dr Ashni Singh.
Efforts to conduct Dr Singh yesterday proved futile.
This newspaper has also learnt that the prices at the pumps are unlikely to decrease anytime soon given that the current supply of fuel on the markets was purchased at the increased prices and any new supply will incur the new excise tax.
Recently, the Alliance for Change had called on the government to reduce the price of gasoline at the pumps, which is currently just below the $1,000 per gallon mark.
This, the party said, would be in response to the marked decrease in the international prices for oil, moving from an all-time high of US$147 per barrel to US$85.
When there was a movement upwards in the world market price, Guyanese saw an almost instantaneous rise at the pumping stations throughout the country.
The party noted that despite the incremental decrease in the world market price over the past months, to the present level of approximately US$84 per barrel, “that corresponding instantaneous decrease at our pumping stations is markedly absent.”
“Price per gallon of gasoline and dieseline at these stations still remains as if the international prices have not dropped at all from the all-time high.”
The party stated that it was very concerned that the government has remained mum on this development, which has had very adverse effects on both the players in industry and ordinary consumers.
The party at that time had said that information reliably released to it had stated that the only beneficiary of these continued high prices for gasoline and dieseline here in Guyana has been the Government of Guyana, which the party said ‘has’ re-applied the heavy taxes on fuel sold to the consumers.
The government is thus making a whopping windfall profit, while the individual citizen suffers a deleterious deficit…This, once again, is governmental action that is wholly uncaring and unreasonable.”
During mid September the price for diesel and kerosene oil showed a small reduction on the local market.
In Guyana, Government reduces the excise tax on fuel whenever the price rises and increases that tax when the price of oil reduces.
This is done to keep stability on the local market.
When asked for a comment on the actual increase yesterday, Chairman of the Alliance for Change Khemraj Ramjattan yesterday said that the previous tax was always too high and the government should have either left it at seven per cent or at the most increase it to 10 per cent.
“Twenty per cent is amazingly too high,” said Ramjattan, even though the tax could be as high as 50 per cent.
He noted that the renewed excise tax on gas will create an added burden to consumers who already have to face taxes such as VAT (Value Added Tax).
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
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