Ministerial Direction On Retail Fuel Pricing
“The Ministry will use every lawful mechanism available to prevent price increases and to protect Bermudian households from higher living costs,” Minister Alexa Lightbourne said this evening [April 18].
A Government spokesperson said, “The Hon. Alexa N. H. Lightbourne, JP, MP, Minister of Home Affairs, issues this update on the Government’s action to keep fuel prices from rising to protect Bermudian families and businesses from higher costs.
“On Wednesday 15 April 2026, the Minister issued a formal Directive to the Regulatory Authority (RA). The purpose was to proactively keep retail fuel prices at their current level and prevent increased prices at the pump due to the instability in the Persian Gulf.
“At the same time, the Ministry of Finance advised that it would offer a customs duty relief measure, building on the approach used successfully in 2022 when fuel prices were last frozen. This is intended to ensure that licensed fuel importers and retailers are not affected while fuel prices are frozen. In other words, the Government will cover any verified revenue shortfall for licensed importers during this period.
“Despite this coordinated action from the Government, fuel prices were increased after a communication from the Regulatory Authority to licensed importers, which effectively gave them the go-ahead to increase prices.
“In response, an emergency meeting was held on the morning of Friday, 17 April 2026, involving the Government, the Regulatory Authority’s executive team, and the commissioners, to address any concerns.
“Today, the Minister has written to the Regulatory Authority and its Board and has invited them to urgently meet and reconsider that communication which led to an increase, in keeping with the 2026 Ministerial Direction on retail fuel pricing. The matter now rests with the Regulatory Authority Board. The Ministry has also asked the Regulatory Authority to make its decision public and trusts that the Board will act in the public interest at a time when many families and businesses are already feeling financial pressure.”
Minister Lightbourne said, “The Ministry will use every lawful mechanism available to prevent price increases and to protect Bermudian households from higher living costs.”
The full Letter to RA on the Retail Fuels Price follows below [PDF here]:
“The matter now rests with the Regulatory Authority Board”
The blame game has now started.
The Minister does not have a magic wand to wave and grant wishes. The Regulatory Board does not pay for fuel on the world market or have any influence on what the price of that fuel is.