Naharnet - Public Works Committee to Discuss Subsidizing Fuel for Public Transportation - May 9, 2011

The Parliamentary public works committee will hold a meeting on Tuesday to seek a solution for the constant rise in fuel prices, An Nahar newspaper said on Monday. The head of the committee, MP Mohammed Qabbani, told the daily that the subsidy would encourage the Lebanese to make public transportation at least 70% of their transport means.Qabbani said one way to reach this solution is "to subsidize the gasoline prices for taxis and diesel for buses and trucks." The committee meeting will be held in the presence of Caretaker Finance Minister Raya al-Hassan,Caretaker Public Works and Transportation Minister Ghazi al-Aridi, Caretaker Energy Minister JebranBassil and representatives from taxi drivers unions. "There will be consensus during the meeting," An Nahar said. Meanwhile, the newspaper reported that the construction violations issue isn't listed on Tuesday's agenda, unless one of the "members wanted to discuss it."