Funeral operators are warning that a proposed 77% increase in natural gas prices could lead to a rise in cremation costs. Keith Belgrove, President of the Association of Funeral Professionals of Trinidad and Tobago, highlighted that crematoria heavily rely on natural gas for operations, are already burdened by high energy use, costly overseas maintenance, and stringent environmental standards. The acquisition of US dollars for equipment servicing is challenging, and the Environmental Management Authority mandates expensive annual emissions testing. Belgrove warns that if the gas price hike is implemented, the increased financial burden will inevitably be transferred to consumers through higher cremation fees. Although the exact increase is not specified, it is certain that the costs of cremation, currently ranging from $3,500 to $4,500, will rise. A committee has been established to evaluate the full impact of the proposed increase, which is also sparking broader concerns about escalating costs in the economy.
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