And while leaders from those countries discuss energy security with one of the world’s largest oil producers, Belize experiences another price shock today as the cost of a cylinder of butane went up again. In the city the price moved from $102 to $105. The increase became effective today and it follows what’s a fairly steady succession of increases since the year began. And while we casually report these increases – they don’t occur in a vacuum. Remember when you could get a $5 plate of dinner? Well nowadays, a decent plate of rice and beans for $5 is hard to find and it might soon be harder. This afternoon we visited some popular local eateries to find out how increasing gas prices are affecting their bottom line and why it might soon affect yours.
Emelda Jau, Editha’s Fast Food
“Rice gaan up, beans gaan up, everything thing is going up, meat.”
Keith Swift,
And now butane.
Emelda Jau,
“Butane now.”
That’s right – today cooks like Emelda Jau got the news of another increase in the price of butane gas. This increase is only $3 but there has been a steady increase in butane price and it has cut a deep into Jau’s bottom line. She has operated Editha’s fast food for 4 years.
Emelda Jau,
“Its very expensive to me because from the time we started to work here I sold my food for $4. Then I raised it to $5 and now it is $6. So I don’t want to do because some people don’t have money to pay the price if you raise it. First I used to make panades and all those stuff and now I can’t make that because its really expensive to make so I try the best to give to my customers, the best I could. So what will I do now?”
Keith Swift,
How long have you been in business?
Emelda Jau,
“Four years.”
Keith Swift,
What was the price of butane when you started?
Emelda Jau,
“$82.”
Keith Swift,
That’s four years ago and now it is…
Emelda Jau,
“It’s going to be $108. Wow, I don’t know what to do now.”
Here at Mari Mari you still get three panades for a dollar but that might soon be a thing of the past. Maria Vasquez has been in the panades business for 12 years. She now runs the shop with her daughter Elizabeth Sarmiento.
Elizabeth Sarmiento, Mari Mair Panades Shop
“The prices that are going up is crazy. It is affecting us a lot and it is going to affect the customers too because we are going to have to raise the prices. When the chicken and stuff went up we didn’t raise the price but now we are not making the profit like first. Everything is going to go up; while it was $1.75 for a burrito, it’s going to be $2.”
Keith Swift,
How much for a panades right now?
Elizabeth Sarmiento,
“3 for one dollar.”
Keith Swift,
It used to be 4 for a dollar.
Elizabeth Sarmiento,
“It used to be four for a dollar.”
Keith Swift,
You think it is going to go up more?
Elizabeth Sarmiento,
“Well we are trying not to take up the panades being that they are small and stuff but if it keeps going up like this, eventually its going to be like 2 for a dollar.”
One cook who has resisted the urge to raise her prices is Olive Leslie. She runs olive’s kitchen and she is literally carrying the burden of the increasing prices.
Olive Leslie, Olive’s Kitchen
“It affects me a lot but I realize I am in a neighborhood where there is a lot of poor people so I keep my prices down. My food is $3, $4, & $5 but because of the GST its $3.30, $4.40, % $5.50.”
Keith Swift,
Since you are not increasing your prices when there is an increase in butane then you are losing.
Olive Leslie,
“Yes I suffer a loss but then somebody has to suffer the loss and government won’t suffer it so I have to suffer it.”
And the question for consumers is how long will cooks like Miss Olive, Maria Vasquez, and Emelda Jau suffer those losses before they pass it on to you.
The price of $105 does not include the $2 delivery charge. The new charges around the country are as follows: $107 in Belmopan and Dangriga; $110 in San Ignacio; $111 in Benque; $106 in Orange Walk; $105 in Corozal; and $108 in Punta Gorda. To be fair, we note that the last change in butane price was actually a decrease.
