Why not pull gas subsidy & apply it to food & public transportation?

Question

On a recent visit to T&T, I was appalled & literally frightened by what I saw on the roads- gas guzzling SUVs and trucks, gridlock in the cities & carnage on the highways. All because of the gas subsidy. It costs around $18Cdn to fill up a tank, compared to $50-$70 Cdn here. So most everyone owns 2 cars + an SUV. If the government is serious about fighting pollution (it's coming folks) and going green, why not pull the subsidy from gas, & apply it to public transportation- rail & ferry service- and food? Food prices are soaring because of the dependency on imports when we have the capacity to grow our own. Just before I left- 1 week ago- seedlings were being given to those who wanted. Excellent program which should be expanded. I want to go back soon, but I don't want to choke in smog or compromise my healthy diet. Onward forward.

Answer 1

Wow!!!  havent't been back to Trini in a while, didn't realize modernization had grown so rapidly.  Last I was there cars were just beginning to pile up the roads.

Answer 2

simply because Government run public transportation does not take you to many rural areas.  buses, the soon to come rapid rail and ferry service, would not get you very close to where you need to get to.  you still have to depend on privately owned taxis.  

Removing the gas subsidy will cause the price of gas to increase by about 100%.  it costs $12 to get from Curepe to Sando in a taxi, an increase of 100% puts that price to atleast $24, with no increase in my salary.

So, say we decide to go 'green', and pull the gas subsidy because we can afford to drive our SUV right, and because no buses provide transport in my area, i should then expect taxi rates to go from $5.00 to > $10 to get from home to San Fernando. from $4.00 to >$8.00 to Marabella. and d short drops will go to >$5.00.  and simply because at this time we are not doing what our grand parents were doing and planting the kitchen garden to provide foods that were too expensive.

No one asked you to compromise your heatlhy diet, if you cant eat healthy in T&T its because you dont want to!!! because you can get EVERYTHING in trinidad.

PS.  Seedlings were distributed to farmers in GUYANA.  Our government has been encouraging the citizens to plant you own garden.  and purchase locally grown food.

But its good to know that you spent an entire week here and you have single handedly solved our food, transportation and polution problems.  THANK YOU!!!!!  I simply dont know what we would have done without you.

Answer 3

Cuz gas prices will SOAR.

I agree with hotta

Answer 4

Sounds fair but why not ban all cars except Toyota - they are not Gas guzzlers!