By KEVA LIGHTBOURNE, Guardian Senior Reporter, kdl@nasguard.com

There seems to be no end to the rising cost of gasoline which yesterday edged even closer to the $6 mark.

As of Tuesday, a gallon of gas at Texaco service stations rose to a high of $5.34, a jump of $0.32 cents from the $5.02 that consumers were paying over the past several weeks.

Texaco's price change came just a day after Shell announced a $0.26 cents increase for its gasoline per gallon, which is now tagged at $5.24.

As of yesterday, Esso gasoline remained at $5.05 per gallon.

The rising prices in gasoline is a reflection of the significant increase in the price of crude oil on the international market, which as of Monday exceeded an unprecedented $120 per barrel.

Because of the skyrocketing prices, motorists are now being urged to carpool. Some have even resorted to parking their vehicles to take advantage of the public transportation system, which has for years been plagued by a number of problems.

In interviews with The Guardian yesterday, irate motorists called on government to intervene in the situation they claimed was "wreaking havoc" on the pockets of the small man.

Inderia Swaby called on the government to consider reducing the tax on gas.

"As it stands now, the rising price of gas is ridiculous and it is difficult for the Bahamian people because as fuel prices rise, so is the cost of living but our salaries remain the same," she said.

"Things are not getting easier but harder and if the government can assist us in some way, it needs to be done right away," said Swaby. "They (government) need to stop saying there is nothing they can do, because it holds the power."

Angela Moncur, who too is feeling the pinch of the rising prices, pointed out that it was even more difficult for the unemployed.

"What are they supposed to do?" she asked. "How are they supposed to survive in a time like this when everything is skyrocketing, not just the price of gas but food and everything else."

International analysts have blamed several factors for the continued rise in oil costs, including interruptions in pipeline operations in Nigeria and the Caspian region.

The situation continues to be blamed for rising food costs and other costs generally, with many local business people reporting they are feeling the impact in a significant way.

The rising fuel cost has also prompted both presidents of the bus and taxi-cab associations to petition the government for an increase in fares.

Taxi-cab union president Leon Griffin said his organization has only asked that taxi fares be increased in those areas frequented by tourists.

He explained that in the Over-the-Hill areas no fare increase is being sought.