Lillikas: I can demand lower fuel costs if need be

COMMERCE Minister George Lillikas has said that he will not hesitate to issue a decree in which he will demand lower oil prices, if the Advisory Committee comes up with evidence that does not justify the current prices set by companies.

Lillikas added that if prices are unjustifiably high, in accord of the law, he has the right to intervene.

The minister added that he has already asked the Advisory Committee to collect information and evidence involving the current oil prices. He then went on to reassure the Cypriot public that if it is discovered that prices are higher than what they should be he will issue a decree ordering that prices are lowered.

In the meantime, at a press conference held by DISY yesterday, the party’s number two Averoff Neophitou made reference to the fact that even though international oil prices have lowered, this doesn’t seem to be the case in Cyprus.

“We are truly surprised and puzzled to see that unfortunately, although there has been a gradual decrease in international oil prices since the beginning of the week, and even though Greece has already started lowering prices for the consumers, in Cyprus the mad increase continues.”

The Social Democrat party EDEK also issued a statement yesterday announcing their great concern on the phenomenon of constant rising prices.

“These expenses are completely unjustified and can only be described as exploitation,” read the announcement.

EDEK also asked the Minister of Commerce to act immediately, in favor of the Cypriot public.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.