Rising fuel prices are placing increasing pressure on households and businesses in the Virgin Islands, prompting commentator Claude Skelton Cline to call on the government to consider using reserve funds to stabilize fuel costs and reduce the impact on consumers.
Speaking on his Honestly Speaking radio programme on May 19, Skelton Cline said the territory should explore mechanisms to lock in fuel prices amid continued volatility in global energy markets and mounting concerns over the cost of living.
“There’s no reason why we should not be locking in fuel prices,” Skelton Cline said. “We have $120 million in reserve.”
His comments come as residents continue to face higher electricity bills, fuel surcharges and transportation costs, issues he said are affecting families, businesses and the broader economy.
Skelton Cline acknowledged the government’s recent decision to allocate funding to help offset electricity costs but questioned whether additional measures may be needed to shield consumers from future increases.
“There’s going to be a serious monopoly and a further suffocation of this country,” he said while discussing fuel supply and pricing concerns. “We have to start planning. This thing is going to get more and more out of hand.”
The radio host argued that reserve funds could potentially be used to secure more predictable fuel pricing arrangements, although he did not outline a specific policy proposal. He suggested that government officials begin discussions on contingency plans before economic pressures worsen.
“We need to begin to think and talk and lay out a plan,” Skelton Cline said. “The most dangerous place for you to be is to be unprepared.”
The Virgin Islands remains heavily dependent on imported fuel and energy supplies, making the territory vulnerable to fluctuations in global oil prices and shipping costs. Higher fuel prices have also contributed to increased operating expenses for businesses and higher utility bills for consumers.
Skelton Cline said the territory’s dependence on imports leaves residents exposed to external economic shocks and called for greater long-term planning to strengthen economic resilience.
“How many times do I have to come to this microphone and say it?” he asked. “The most dangerous position for a person, a family, a community or a country is to be unprepared.”
