The word “relief” was often used during the recent 2026 budget debate, mostly by parliamentarians criticising ministers for not doing enough to provide such. Higher fuel prices due to conflict in the Middle East have led to an undesired spike in the cost-of-living, on top of earlier hikes resulting from the COVID-19 crisis and Ukraine war, with several countries also in the region taking steps to mitigate the impact.
United People’s party (UP) leader Omar Ottley is questioning (see related story) whether next year’s budget includes meaningful relief on utilities provider GEBE bills. He said people cannot afford to wait for yet another report about tariffs from newly appointed electricity regulator Bureau Telecommunications and Post (BTP), 18 months after the initial RAC-BTP of April 2025.
To be fair, the government-owned company is already applying discounts for senior citizens and vulnerable households via the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour VSA. Nevertheless, many who may need help are not getting it, for example because they are tenants and the GEBE account is not in their name.
Ottley again called for a Ministerial Decree using the Price Ordinance to set utility rates in the absence of a National Decree Containing General Measures LBHAM. He also pointed to a period when the dreaded fuel clause was increasing while the price of oil per barrel was decreasing.
No matter what one thinks of his comments, the current opposition member does speak with some authority when it comes to taking action against poverty. As minister, he was instrumental in expanding the so-called basket of essential goods for which maximum prices are set six-fold, from 12 to 72 products.
The latter did not occur without initial resistance from businesses involved, which reportedly refused to share pertinent information on their related expenses at first. But ultimately parties agreed and changes were made.
This does not mean the system is now always correctly or fairly applied by all. However, it teaches that although often difficult and even controversial, tough decisions are sometimes not to be avoided.
