National

Gas Retailer: It Could Go Lower or Possibly Higher, We Don’t Know

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – In addition to groceries and utilities, fuel is also a necessity, and prices at the pump are rising seemingly every day, the Tribune Gas Tracker reporting Shell at $6.85, Rubis at $6.65, and Esso at a shocking $7.07.

Published

3 months ago

June 12, 2026

Joshua Williams

NASSAU , BAHAMAS – The high cost of living and hitting taxpayers in all directions.

In addition to groceries and utilities, fuel is also a necessity, and prices at the pump are rising seemingly every day.

The Tribune Gas Tracker reporting Shell at $6.85, Rubis at $6.65, and Esso at a shocking $7.07… a stark difference when compared to last year.

And with many wondering when relief will come, Vice President of the Bahamas Petroleum Retailers Association, Vasco Bastian, tells Joshua that the truth is they’re not in control.

Vasco Bastian – Vice President, Bahamas Petroleum Retailers Association

“Well Josh, to be honest with you, the prices will either go slightly up or they will be fully reduced, but no one can really predict exactly which direction right now because of what’s going on in the Middle East. So all of this is just a correlation to what’s going on and no one knows exactly where the price will go. It can go up or go down.”

When prices first began rising earlier this year at the start of the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict… Prime Minister Philip Davis and former Economic Affairs Minister Michael Halkitis said Bahamians had nothing to worry about.

Vasco Bastian – Vice President, Bahamas Petroleum Retailers Association

“We haven’t met with the new Minister of Economic Affairs, I believe it’s Jerome Fitzgerald. We know him, but we haven’t met with him in an official capacity. Hopefully, in a few weeks, we can have an audience with him to discuss some issues.”

But could the country run out of fuel?

Vasco Bastian – Vice President, Bahamas Petroleum Retailers Association

“The three major wholesalers, Esso, Rubis and Shell, have more than adequate inventory for Bahamians to drive this island, or wherever they want to go.”

Vasco Bastian – Vice President, Bahamas Petroleum Retailers Association

“Our margin is fixed. We don’t make more money. It’s costing us more to buy the same fuel. Our margin is fixed, so we are never happy with the price of gas going up.”