“‘Here We Go Again’: Bus Operators Warn Fuel Price Hike Could Trigger Fare Increase”

The National Council on Public Transportation (NCOPT) has warned that bus fares could eventually rise following the latest fuel price increase, as operators grapple with growing financial pressure and call for a permanent system linking fares to fuel costs and inflation.

The warning comes after gasoline and diesel prices climbed to $16.75 per imperial gallon, reigniting concerns about the long-term sustainability of the public transportation sector.

NCOPT President Godfrey Ferdinand said the latest adjustment was a familiar and frustrating development for operators.

“When I heard that news I said, ‘Here we go again,'” Ferdinand stated, describing what he sees as a recurring cycle in which transport providers are forced to react to rising fuel costs rather than plan for them.

According to Ferdinand, government officials should have anticipated the impact of increasing fuel prices and engaged public transportation stakeholders well before the adjustment took effect. He believes discussions involving the Ministries of Transport and Finance should focus on the long-term implications of fuel price movements and prepare both operators and commuters for potential changes.

“Such a process would educate the public and operators into how and what will happen in the event that there is an increase in fuel, especially in the long run,” he explained.

Ferdinand noted that under the current system, every spike in fuel prices triggers calls from transport operators for fare adjustments, often placing the NCOPT in direct conflict with commuters.

He said the council has frequently been criticised whenever it seeks fare increases, despite the reality that minibus operators are running businesses that must remain economically viable.

“With everything that’s going on globally as well regionally and locally, there is no reason why we should not request an increase,” Ferdinand said.

However, the NCOPT president argues that fare increases should not be handled through periodic negotiations and public disputes. Instead, he is advocating for a scientific, formula-based pricing mechanism that would automatically adjust fares based on fuel prices and inflation.

“To me, we should not have been where we are now. It is a case where we should maybe automatically receive an increase like what LUCELEC can do for itself,” Ferdinand stated.

He suggested a model that would establish a clear relationship between pump prices and bus fares.

“The times we are living in, we should be in a position where we can formulate an equation that would say if fuel is $14.00 it should be X in bus fares and if it is $17.00 it should be X in bus fares. If we can do that then we know we have reached a place where everyone is operating professionally.”

Ferdinand argued that traditional fare increases of 25 cents, 50 cents, 75 cents or one dollar fail to accurately reflect the true cost of operating public transportation services. A formula-based approach, he said, would provide transparency and predictability for both operators and commuters.

The NCOPT is also urging government to revisit recommendations contained in a public transportation study funded by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB). Ferdinand expressed concern that important findings from major reports are often ignored once they are completed.

“It would have been interesting if the government would come and abstract from the CDB report and say to the public their findings. They have said some to us but like every other report, administration upon administration take what they feel like and just shelve the rest.”

While governments have historically offered fuel rebates to help cushion rising costs, Ferdinand maintained that such measures have done little to address operators’ challenges.

“Us taking a rebate has always been to our loss,” he said.

“A rebate is five cents a day. There is not even a sweet you can buy at five cents in Saint Lucia.”

He further noted that current bus fares are effectively based on a rate structure dating back to 2013 that was not implemented until 2022, leaving operators struggling to keep pace with inflation and increasing operating expenses.

For now, the NCOPT has adopted a three-week observation period to assess the impact of the latest fuel increase on operators’ earnings. Should the data reveal significant financial strain, the council is expected to formally pursue a fare adjustment despite calls from some operators for an immediate increase.

Ferdinand said he intends to write to the Department of Transport by the end of Tuesday, seeking dialogue that could lead to a faster and more sustainable solution for the sector.

For the NCOPT, the issue extends beyond the latest fuel hike. The council believes Saint Lucia must move toward a modern, transparent pricing system that reduces uncertainty, protects operators and gives commuters a clearer understanding of how transportation costs are determined.

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