Commentator Douglas Wheatley believes the Virgin Islands should have been looking at alternative and renewable energy sources years ago and has dropped the ball in this regard. Photo: VINO/File

On the Speak Out BVI Show aired on May 13, 2014 Wheatley said the Territory should have been looking into ways to reduce the cost of fuel as everything is dependent on fuel and this cost remains very high.

One caller suggested that something be done about the fuel surcharge placed on electricity bills and said that government’s next contract with any fuel company should see them finding a way to get the fuel surcharge cost out of the way.

“When your bill comes up to two hundred dollars your fuel charge is almost one hundred and eighty dollars. It is ridiculous, something is wrong man. This is modern times,” he complained.

Lorrie A. Rhymer, another caller on the programme, also commented that the fuel costs will continue to escalate until the Territory makes a decision ‘towards going to the source itself to get fuel’.

Meanwhile, co-host Natalio D. Wheatley aka Sowande Uhuru felt that ways should be found to save money for consumers since they are paying a heavy price and businesses are also forced to charge certain prices considering their added overhead costs.

“We have to find a way to get that overhead down and to decrease the cost of living for the consumers,” Sowande argued.