PHILIPSBURG--Although government has significantly reduced the maximum price at which LPG cooking gas can be sold to consumers in St. Maarten effective Monday, February 22, some businesses were still selling gas at the old, much higher price yesterday.
A scan of three businesses that sell LPG showed that two were still selling at the old and much higher price. Island Cooking Gas was the only business of the three checked by The Daily Herald that carried the correct, lower price yesterday.
Gas King was still selling at the old price, but a staffer at the business indicted upfront that their price will be reduced as of today, Tuesday, as soon as the business received the new price list from Government as the list hadn’t been received as yet.
TropiGas in Dutch Quarter was selling at the old price and there was no indication whether the price will be reduced nor when. This newspaper sought a comment from the establishment on the matter and although told that an official would contact the paper, calls were not returned up to press time.
Minister of Tourism Economic Affairs Transport and Telecommunications Irania Arrindell could not be reached for comment on Monday.
Government announced in a press release on Friday, that the old price of LPG (cooking gas) 20lb cylinder was NAf. 42, while the new price is NAf.21.73. The old price of cooking gas 100lb cylinder was NAf.153, while the new price is now NAf.112.96. The old price of LPG (bulk) was NAf.1.51 per pound, while the new price is NAf. 0.97 per pound.
Government regulates the prices of petroleum products by imposing a maximum price at which wholesalers and retailers may sell these products in the country. On the international level, the prices of crude oil have experienced adjustments and local prices follow the international trend, and therefore prices are adjusted to reflect this, authorities had said in a press release on the reduction on Friday.
