There is good reason why Barbadians are nervous about the conflict in Ukraine and the accompanying increases in fuel prices on the island.With the conflict into its third week, its impact is beginning to be felt around the world, and we in Barbados were already burdened by prohibitive energy prices. For months, the Ministry of Energy hovered the retail price of gas at $3.99, not prepared to cross the $4.00 mark. Many believed $4.00 per litre was a psychological mark that indicated a “crisis situation”.However, having been primed by local and international media that global energy prices would jump because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in Putin’s audacious power grab, Barbadians have resigned themselves to the inevitable.Today, we are paying $4.13 per litre, an increase of 14 cents, while those drivers of diesel-powered vehicles pay $3.46 per litre, an increase of 17 cents. Homeowners are also grappling with increases in liquified petroleum gas.
