And, finally from the PM - turns out - contrary to what his faithful Deputy Joe Mai alluded to - he has NO secret plan to reduce the price of fuel.
Pump prices are crushingly high - but the PM basically said today that so are world prices, and taking the tax down - would mean having to get it back from somewhere else:
Jules Vasquez
"Recently Jose Mai alluded that you had some magic answer for the price of fuel. I don't know if the man was hyping you up, I know it's your close ally. When I hear you on the radio just now it doesn't sound like you really do have a magic..."
Hon. John Briceno, Prime Minister
"You know even more than I that we have no control over the price of fuel and the prices have been going up considerably. It's about 90-95 dollars a barrel. We have a problem with transportation. A number of issues that have come together that has created this spike worldwide. The best that we can do is to be able to take a look as to what it cost when they buy the fuel and how much it cost to bring it here and to look at the tax structure and see where we can make some cuts. We may have to make some decisions to be able to cut on the taxes, but then that means that then you are cutting from here to be able to ease it, but also then you will have to find the balance somewhere."
Jules Vasquez
"What you are saying is that no relief in sight."
Hon. John Briceno, Prime Minister
"I did not say that. I said that we need to look at the tax structure and see where is it that we can cut."
