Philipsburg: --- The Economic Affairs Department has announced gas prices will increase by Naf. 0.40 as of Wednesday. The new price per liter of gasoline has hiked up to Naf1.85 from Naf1.45. Diesel will sell at Naf.1.55 per litre. The last time gas prices were adjusted was in December 2008 when consumers were given a significant relief with the decrease in prices compared to earlier in the year 2008.
The executive council approved the increase which would go into effect on Wednesday June 17th. Sector head of the Economic Affairs Miguel De Weever said wholesalers were operating at a loss for the past two months. He said with the current increase that lost was recovered while there would be at least two to three cents as buffer.
At a press conference on Tuesday where the increases of the past year has been outlined. The sector head has called on the community to shop around and monitor food prices since there should not be any increase in food prices now that the price of gasoline has increased. De Weever called on Supermarket owners not to increase their prices since times are already hard economically. He said the department would be conducting their controls to monitor the situation. DeWeever said the department is also calling on wholesalers to submit their invoices so that more products can be added to the price control list. He said already the department sent out at least three letters requesting this information but so far the wholesalers are not cooperating. Already the department sought advice from the prosecutor’s office who said a final letter should be sent to these merchants which would give them at least two weeks to respond. De Weever said that letter was sent in May and should there be no response then they would be forced to take action.