Government indicates it’s willing to look for ways to deal with rising fuel prices but warns the options are limited and it may be difficult to cut the fuel tax.

Minister in the ministry of finance Ryan Straughn, speaking on VOB’s Brass Tacks program, blamed the hikes largely on rising prices internationally noting that Barbados had to look for new suppliers following the closure of Trinidad’s Petrotrin refinery.

And, following calls for the fuel tax to be reduced, he noted that government has lost 600 million dollars in revenue due to the covid-19 pandemic at a time of unplanned expenses due to the ash fall and Hurricane Elsa.

The minister made it clear that any cut in taxes will have to be made up somehow, from somewhere.