Sunoco Accused of Fuel Monopoly in VI
On his July 14 show 'Brace Yourself', commentator Skelton-Cline said Sunoco LP 'in essence has a monopoly on fuel in the Virgin Islands' and urged the establishment of a Trade Commission and stronger anti-trust measures. He warned the concentration of ownership — including Delta and SOL being controlled by Sunoco — risks fuel pricing and supply security for the Territory and the BVI Electricity Corporation.
Prominent commentator Skelton-Cline told listeners on his July 14 broadcast of 'Brace Yourself' that Sunoco LP "in essence has a monopoly on fuel in the Virgin Islands." He urged elected officials to act, saying a Trade Commission and anti-trust mechanisms would have prevented the current situation.
Skelton-Cline said both Delta and SOL are now owned by Sunoco but continue to operate under their existing brand names. "The fuel comes from the same source and is owned by the same entity, and the price is set by that entity and the supply is determined by that entity," he said. He added that most independent stations obtain fuel "90 per cent of the time" from Sunoco, which also owns the Puerto Rico operation that supplies the product.
The commentator described Sunoco LP as a foreign-owned company during his remarks; Sunoco LP is an American master limited partnership organised under Delaware state law and headquartered in Dallas, Texas. Regardless of its legal domicile, Skelton-Cline warned the concentration of supply and pricing power in one corporate group creates risks for consumers and businesses in the British Virgin Islands.
He linked the fuel supply issue to the BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC), saying the utility "has no real supply, no real source" and should not be dependent on a single entity for fuel. "Somebody got to be paying attention," he said, insisting the debate is about policy decisions that affect residents' lives rather than personalities. "This is not about you personally," he added, later lamenting that "we keep electing blind people to tell us how to see." Skelton-Cline called repeatedly for the Territory to establish stronger competition oversight.
He argued that anti-trust rules and a Trade Commission could shape how fuel is sold and distributed in the Virgin Islands without necessarily blocking commercial activity. For BVI residents, concentrated control over fuel can translate into less competition, potential price volatility and vulnerabilities in the supply chain that affect transport costs, business operations and electricity generation.
Skelton-Cline's comments put fresh pressure on local officials to assess competition policy, examine supply relationships and consider regulatory tools to protect consumers and the Territory's energy security. Officials and industry representatives have not been quoted in response to his remarks; any policy changes would require government review and possible legislative action to create or empower an independent trade or competition authority.
Primary source: VINO