The Tribune

By LEANDRA ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

lrolle@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis has started discussions with the Saudi Arabian government on how the country can import fuel from the Middle Eastern country, according to Press Secretary Clint Watson.

Speaking to reporters yesterday, Mr Watson said Mr Davis initiated the conversation when the delegation paid a courtesy call on him earlier this week and added the group appeared to be open to discussions on the matter.

“This week, the Saudi Arabian government placed a courtesy call led by their tourism minister,” Mr Watson said.

“One of the things that I think we’re looking towards is greater dialogue with (the) Saudi Arabian government particularly as we face what we see happening globally and here at home is inflation.

“We recognise that higher prices in food, higher prices in fuel and higher prices in goods coming to the country are all linked to one key thing — fuel, the rising oil prices and what Prime Minister Davis has been able to strategically do is to begin a discussion with the Saudi Arabian government on how we can work a network that accesses oil from them and to access fuel from them so that it will cut down on the overhead costs coming to the country.”

He also said: “It is a great strategy if we can work together with them in that regard and will significantly impact what we see happening at the ports, at the pumps and at the wholesalers because it all relies on the shipping costs, trucking costs and all that is going up with rising fuel prices so this is something that Prime Minister Davis initiated in conversation with them and something they are open to discussions with and we’re looking to see how quickly and soon we can begin that bout of discussions to bring relief here to our domestic supply.”