On Tuesday we told you that the fares for water taxis have increased by approximately $30 per roundtrip ticket. The reasoning behind this, according to the Ports Commissioner, was that fuel prices were at an all time high and had become unsustainable for the two major water taxi services, so they implemented a fuel surcharge.
But a thirty dollar jump? Many regular commuters were blindsided by this new rate, which came into effect on June 1st. And Belizean travelers feel that thirty dollars is unreasonable and way too high to take a trip to the cayes for recreational purposes.
Today we asked Minister of Logistics, Michel Chebat if he felt the new price was justified.
Hon. Michel Chebat - Minister of Logistics
"I believe that it was three years ago that their rates had been increased, and with the increase in fuel, they had reached out to the Belize Port Authority, and I believe they had employed a formula calculating the cost of fuel and other factors to come up to this and so it was a formula that was employed taking into consideration all of the factors and this is how they came up with this tariff."
Courtney Menzies
"Don't you think it will hinder domestic tourism considering people now, they noh wah ketch boat no moh?"
Hon. Michel Chebat
"You know, clearly any increase in cost in any services will initially have a little bit of an effect but I think we also must take into consideration the provision of the service which has become more costly due to no control of hours. We are finding ourselves in a world where everything, the cost of fuel which is so fundamental to the provision of these services, has skyrocketed so it leaves us in a very difficult position."
Reporter
"And indeed a precarious position but some may agree that the increase in those water taxi fares should have been maybe staved off for a few months so that consumers and those who utilize the service can prepare."
Hon. Michel Chebat
"Well, you know there are always other options and there are always other opinions but I feel that the Belize Port Authority took into consideration all of the relevant factors at coming up with that formula at this time."
