Keep your receipts says commerce minister as allegations of price gouging surface
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Contact: J. Hinkson Compton
Monday 8 November 2010 – In the aftermath of Hurricane Tomas, retailers have had to deal with the overwhelming demand by consumers desperate for essential items like water. During that period, retailers have been accused of selling goods at higher prices than usual. In light of the unfolding situation, Commerce Minister Senator the honourable Tessa Mangal said there is a list of essential goods called ‘the hurricane list’ which was given to the Ministry of Commerce by NEMO. The prices of these goods, she says, can be capped by government to protect consumers.
“The essential price control food items and fuel on this island include baby foods and fruit juices, bread, cereal, cheese, corned beef, flour, garlic and onions. Margarine, mackerel, milk with powdered and evaporated, peas and beans, potatoes, rice, salt biscuits, sardines, sugar, tea, that is green tea, tuna, toilet soap, tooth paste; in terms of fuels, we have gasoline and leaded oil, kerosene, and propane gas.
The ministry, Senator Mangal noted, is reviewing the list from NEMO to include bottled water. The commerce minister said the ministry had received complaints that certain business places in Saint Lucia were over-charging consumers, for among other things propane gas.
“I would like to appeal to the general public that when people are trying to do those things to them that it is essential that they ask for a receipt so that we have the proof to do what we need to do as a ministry in order to ensure that guilty parties are prosecuted to the full extent of the law; this is not the time for persons to take advantage of the population.”
In addition to the issues of price gouging Director of Consumer Affairs Philip Mc Lauren said that the country is not suffering from a food shortage.
“We are stocked. As we speak we have at least 13 containers of brown sugar on the docks in Castries. We have over five thousand bags of refined sugar at the warehouse. We have about four containers of flour at the warehouse and we expect another four from Barbados and Saint Vincent. We are covered with rice and salt. We are stocked with commodities. Consumers should not be in a panic.” |
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