The Mauritius Consumers Association (ACIM) is back and intends to pursue its fight against rising fuel prices. The secretary general of ACIM, Jayen Chellum, has been quoted in l’Express as announcing that a new protest is planned for January 22.
Chellum said a letter was sent to police to this effect.
Describing the price hike as “unjust, unacceptable and causing pain to consumers”, Chellum claimed that a series of “contributions” introduced by the government have artificially increased the price of gasoline on the island.
Two weeks ago, the Petroleum Pricing Committee declared a 10% increase in the price per litre of gasoline and diesel. The price of gasoline soared from Rs50.70 per litre to Rs55.75 per litre. Diesel also went up: from Rs37.30 per litre to Rs41.00 per litre.
Jayen Chellum called on politicians and the public to join the protest. “Had the public responded to our first rally last September, there would not have not been any increase.”
This time around, l’Express added, he hopes to bring more people together to send a clear, firm and clear message to the government. “The balance of power happens when people take to the streets.”
