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I am 'disgusted' @ 'unjustified' skyrocketing of fuel prices in VI- Skelton-Cline

- said the VI needs Consumer Protection now
Since the onset of the Ukraine invasion by Russia, gas consumers across the globe- including in the Virgin Islands- have been pre-warned to expect soaring prices on fuel. Photo: driving-tests.org
Businessman and host of the Honestly Speaking Radio Programme on ZBVI 780 AM, Mr Claude O. Skelton-Cline has issued a call for consumer protection amidst what he said are inflated prices at fuel pumps. Photo: Facebook
Businessman and host of the Honestly Speaking Radio Programme on ZBVI 780 AM, Mr Claude O. Skelton-Cline has issued a call for consumer protection amidst what he said are inflated prices at fuel pumps. Photo: Facebook
BAUGHERS BAY, Tortola, VI- Businessman and host of the Honestly Speaking Radio Programme on ZBVI 780 AM, Mr Claude O. Skelton-Cline has issued a call for consumer protection amidst what he said are inflated prices at some fuel pumps locally.

Since the onset of the Ukraine invasion by Russia, gas consumers across the globe- including in the Virgin Islands- have been pre-warned to expect soaring prices on fuel.

According to Yahoo Finance, After rising dramatically following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the price of gas in the United States reached a record, topping a high that had stood for nearly 14 years.

Addressing the 'talk of the town' issue on his show on March 8, 2022, Skelton-Cline said there are fuel companies on the island with the ability to store millions of gallons of fuel yet they have already changed the prices to reflect the market price.

“Why then are we having to pay the highest price points when you have storage here that you have bought at a different market price? So you are about to make a killing to kill us over these gas prices!”

He added: “Somebody needs to explain to the people of these Virgin Islands and the Government need to call into question these entities who have storage capacity and yet they have already turned up the heat at the gas pumps on us.”

On the other hand, he said there are gas stations that do not have such storage capacity and he can understand the need to have the prices reflective of the current market price.

The talk show host said when the fuel storage runs out and new fuel is purchased then the cost would be “justifiable” but “Until then it is not justifiable, and then we are going to see it reflected at BVIEC! I am disgusted by what I see!”

“How are we to survive?” he continued, pointing out that food is already sky-high.

Consumer Protection needed now 

Skelton- Cline then called for consumer protection.

“This is why this whole consumer protection, these whole anti-trust entities and residuals need to come from this [Trade] Commission to protect the people in this country! So you don’t have this complete taking advantage of consumers, this underwing grouching in every situation, in every crisis.”

He continued to say, “we need protection now! Not next week, now! Not next year, now!” 

In 2020 the Government of the Virgin Islands passed the Consumer Protection Act, 2020 as well as the Virgin Islands Trade Commission Act, 2019, which is the regulatory body charged with enforcing fair trade practices in the VI.

Since then, the Trade Commission has been launched and it will be replacing the Trade Department.

36 Responses to “I am 'disgusted' @ 'unjustified' skyrocketing of fuel prices in VI- Skelton-Cline”

  • Finally (09/03/2022, 08:19) Like (7) Dislike (3) Reply
    the man has made an excellent point
  • driver (09/03/2022, 08:23) Like (9) Dislike (15) Reply
    If you do not like the price of fuel , make your own. It is all that simple.
  • got to got (09/03/2022, 08:29) Like (15) Dislike (0) Reply
    How can you get consumer protection when the politians either own OR have their hand in as share holders in nearly everything.
  • no fuel came in recently but price gone up (09/03/2022, 08:36) Like (10) Dislike (1) Reply
    OPEC and the rest are a bunch of thieves
  • bandits (09/03/2022, 08:47) Like (6) Dislike (5) Reply
    We get our fuel from trinidad so i dont see what that have to do with the war
  • Claude don't understand simple business (09/03/2022, 08:52) Like (7) Dislike (4) Reply
    All the gas companies store gas - they sell gas at a price that reflects the price they have to buy new gas and make their profit - they dont sell gas at the price they had to pay in the past. Otherwise they will not have enough cash to buy new gas. It is pretty basic stuff, and the same economics that the Overspend presumably uses when selling pizza!
  • Revelations time (09/03/2022, 08:54) Like (3) Dislike (5) Reply
    The almighty is on his way.
  • Really (09/03/2022, 08:58) Like (3) Dislike (18) Reply
    Vino let this comment go up because irs true. Why are russia and ukraine fighting? Why is it taking so long for the movie/ww3 to beginning? it started months ago and allvi see is fake cardboard guns.Why all the old footage from other hoax wow. This hoax war is to bring the crash of the us dollar beginning in the new world order
    • Wayne DEAD (09/03/2022, 11:46) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      You sound so silly the American dollar is already worthless. That invasion is about protecting your yard from your enemies.
    • Bunk (09/03/2022, 14:50) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      Brotherman, go take a tablet and lay down.
  • See (09/03/2022, 09:02) Like (22) Dislike (13) Reply
    Gas prices started going up the day Biden was sworn in to office . Pay attention .
    • check it out (09/03/2022, 10:42) Like (8) Dislike (2) Reply
      They are forcing us to pay now for what they have to pay when they do replenish/reorder. Wickedness!!!!!!!!!!

      “Why then are we having to pay the highest price points when you have storage here that you have bought at a different market price? So you are about to make a killing to kill us over these gas prices!”

      He added: “Somebody needs to explain to the people of these Virgin Islands and the Government need to call into question these entities who have storage capacity and yet they have already turned up the heat at the gas pumps on us.”
    • Ruination (09/03/2022, 11:18) Like (9) Dislike (8) Reply
      The US Democratic Party is undemocratic, dishonest and responsible for The unforgivable sin of allowing Biden to be president. Everybody who voted for any democratic canid are should be embarrassed. Socialists always run out of other peoples money.
  • CS>c (09/03/2022, 09:17) Like (11) Dislike (7) Reply
    boi U could not have chosen a better word to describe yourself / U are doing the same thing and worse by pretending to be A man of GOD and even though the people have gotten wise to your game , your arrogance has failed to bring you to reality ( wannaBe
    player
  • it is (09/03/2022, 09:28) Like (26) Dislike (2) Reply
    Fuel price is high all over but my take with this is that the price is skyrocked here in the BVI with old fuel they put their prices up every two to three weeks with fuel they already paid regular price for. That is wrong
  • Come on (09/03/2022, 09:31) Like (14) Dislike (0) Reply
    Does the BVI have their own oil wells? Is your GAS/OIL barged into the Islands? Do you have your own food sources, except fish and some limited home grown farm items. The USVI and BVI is dependent on foreign import of their food sources, so what do you expect? The average price of a gallon of gas in the "Maiin land and the USVI is now $5.00plus a gallon.
  • UK (09/03/2022, 09:56) Like (15) Dislike (22) Reply
    Claude O. Skelton-Cline This is one time I agree with you.
  • Secret Bear (09/03/2022, 10:29) Like (10) Dislike (4) Reply
    Tell me you don't know how the global economy works without telling me. Does this clown realize there is a major war going on in Ukraine, and that gas prices are skyrocketing everywhere? You can't legislate your way out of that. This guy wants to run for office? Please. If you want to lower oil prices, maybe start thinking up ways to generate our own green energy locally or better yet, start up a nuclear power plant. Otherwise, realize that we are dependent on foreign oil just like everywhere else, and take several seats.
  • ausar (09/03/2022, 10:50) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    Sadly, it's gonna get worse.

    We should all be looking for an alternative to fuel driven transportation. Perhaps, electrically charged vehicles could make their debut soon!

    Until then, well just have to "brace our back, and band our belly", on this one!
    • LCS (10/03/2022, 07:36) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Agree. Electric vehicles is the answer. Car dealers should start importing some. An extra advantage on these vehicles is the low maintenance, compared to conventional ones. We own a couple and yearly savings are high.
  • Really??? (09/03/2022, 11:02) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    I am disgusted by "men of the cloth" taking the people's money, repeatedly, and then failing to deliver on the contract.
  • yes sir.i agree (09/03/2022, 11:08) Like (3) Dislike (3) Reply
    Mr CSC.
    I dont generally agree with much of what you say ( respectfully) but this is absolutely correct. this has happened so many times over the years.
    I.ll tell you another thing..if and when the price drops..it will take weeks for the price to go down at the pumps and the fuel companies will say that they are still useing the fuel in the storage which they purchased at a higher price.

    robbery and they need to be held accountable
    surely customs will know which companies have brought fuel into the territory and at what price.

    this needs investigating

    thankyou Mr CSC for bringing this important topic to the forefront.

    want our electricity prices go up next..considerably
  • . (09/03/2022, 11:10) Like (1) Dislike (4) Reply
    now is the time to invest in electric vehicles, the oil industry is greedy!
    • Curious (09/03/2022, 22:44) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      Should buy solar panels too, cause BVIEC is greedy too. Prices at the pump have "slowly" creeped up, but the fuel surcharge on our power bill been sky high longtime.....considering Electricity buy fuel based on a year contract, announced with a "set price" for the year - not just a storage tank, how does that work?
  • Sam (09/03/2022, 11:28) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    where are the consumer protection laws for the people when you go shopping more money less items

    politically speaking!!!!!
  • $50/gal (09/03/2022, 11:31) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    Buy your fuel now because the price will skyrocket when subs torpedo tankers!
  • Peaches (09/03/2022, 11:58) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
    Claude, sorry to say, but you sound so ignorant. Don't you there is a war between Russia and Ukraine? America themselves are faced with gas prices. This is a shadow of things to come! Stop the noise. You claim to say you are a man of God. You should be able to discern the times in which we are living. You can't hold God in one hand and Mammon on the other. Make up your mind who you are really serving. This is the time (if you are truly a pastor) to proclaim the Three Angels Messages to the world.
  • just wrong (09/03/2022, 12:20) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    @Ruination - It seems that you forgot what the alternative was.
  • Joker (09/03/2022, 18:07) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Inflated fuel prices leaves no loose change for Pizza
  • See (09/03/2022, 19:15) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Please save us from the stupidity. For those geniuses who think electric vehicles are the answer ... Where do think the electricity comes from ? While a few left wing countries go broke trying to go green as they say the countries which produce much dirtier oil and natural gas are laughing all the way to the bank . Let's just all go buy an 80000 electric car . Madness .
  • Deal with it (09/03/2022, 20:12) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    When the guy on the radio used to warn us....look what we did to him.
  • math (09/03/2022, 22:42) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Writer has never been good at math or economics clearly. To replace your current amount of fuel you have to be able to pay for it... OK I spell it out, without charging more for your current supply you would not be able to pay to refill your supply... 1 and 1 is still just 2..
  • Sigh (10/03/2022, 06:52) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    So why don't you bring in your own fuel dat should b cheaper
  • LCS (10/03/2022, 07:38) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    We got to brace ourselves, because when gas prices rise, everything else goes up, as well.
  • go for it (10/03/2022, 19:22) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Have you ever thought about drilling for oil? Apply for a license or permit to drill or start negotiating with people in the business of exploring for oil and then you'll be on a podium all by yourself. And if you are successful, and your find is abundant, you may be in a position to buy the territory from GB, an even name the islands Clyne Islands.And then you'd be at liberty to sell at your price.Think big and go for it.


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