Water supplies have been a focus of many consumers’ attention. Photo: Terrel W Carey/Tribune staff
By AVA TURNQUEST
Tribune Chief Reporter
aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
LABOUR Minister Dion Foulkes yesterday discouraged opportunistic merchants from price gouging as the country braces for Hurricane Irma.
Mr Foulkes flagged possible penalties for lawbreakers like an $8,000 fine or the revocation of a business licence, and urged persons to contact the Price Commission’s hotline to report any concerns of increased prices.
He also advised there was no possibility of a fuel shortage as major gasoline and diesel suppliers are fully stocked.
“Normally leading up to national disasters such as this hurricane,” he said, “we have had past experiences of merchants increasing the prices of hurricane related items, particularly at hardware stores and food stores. We would like to advise all merchants that it is an offence under the Price Control Act and the Consumer Protection Act.
“The total fine if you combine both acts is about $8,000 penalty for that, also there is a risk of losing the business licence. So we would like to encourage merchants generally not to take advantage from an illegal point of view but also from a moral point of view of the Bahamian consumers during this period.”
Mr Foulkes said he could not speak to anecdotal accounts of price gouging during previous storms, adding his ministry was committed to ensuring the regulations are enforced with the help of the police and Office of the Attorney General.
The Price Commission’s hotline numbers are 376-1507 and 376-5125 which are operational from 9am to 9pm and will remain active until a week after the passage of the storm.
“We want to encourage The Bahamas to call us because we have about 60 inspectors throughout the country from Inagua to Grand Cay that will be enforcing these regulations.”
He continued: “I also want to inform that all of the three major suppliers of gasoline and diesel have advised us that they are fully stocked and there is no possibility of them running out. So if you hear anything on social media don’t believe it, you don’t have to panic and run to the gas stations.”
In a later press statement, Mr Foulkes said there were some serious issues concerning consumer affairs in the country and that the Price Commission and the Consumer Protection Commission must readily address them. Among these concerns he noted were the newly introduced charges by some banks on various banking transactions along with other vexing consumer issues.
Comments
sealice 6 years, 8 months ago
What about psycho chief customs officers on the out islands that think it's martial law and they are Roberto Duterte?? Those crooked fluckers charging duty on hurricane relief goods and pocketing the cash.... arrest some a dem please!!!
John 6 years, 8 months ago
Exactly what is price gorging? Gas prices are consistently going up because of the effects of harvey on refining in Texas and the claims that refineries still are not in operation. The law of supply and demand says as the demand goes up so does the price. It also says that as supply diminishes so does the price increase. Despite the threats by Dion Foulkes, there is little the government can do if a vendor decides to increase the price of his goods if the item is not price controlled. It may be immoral but hard to be proven illegal. For example persons are offering to purchase battery operated fans for $50.00 and even more. These fans usually sell for $18.00. They also want to but battery operated radios at a premium price And if someone doesn't want to sell his fan or radio and a buyer offers more for it and he accepts, what law has he broken.? Then the thing is persons will go into stores and buy these items at the regular price, then sell them on the streets for three or four times they paid for them.
John 6 years, 8 months ago
The government needs to advise the people that Hurricane Irma over New Providence and Andros will be at least a four day event. Beythe Hurricane is expected to make its turn to the North just after it crosses over Andros the effects will be similar to when the eye passes over though not as intense. There will be a lull in the s winds ( most likely sometime Saturday). Then they will pick in again (later Saturday and Sunday and on thru Monday). Of course there is always the chance that Irma may change course or forward speed.
The_Oracle 6 years, 8 months ago
What they aught to do aside threaten "merchants" is publish a list of those guilty of same but also praise those not guilty. These blanket statements leave a bad taste and suspicion in everyones mouths and minds, and I'm sure prompt much wasted time by consumer affairs investigating false accusations. Any merchant showing price tags as required and operating on computer based systems will tell you it would be a total pain to Adjust prices up, but then, government never asks any one with knowledge of a given subject......however mom and pop stores that do not tag items or run computerized point of sale systems can mess about to no end. Are there corrupt merchants? sure, but I'd be willing to bet at a lower % than corrupt politicians or civil servants. Just saying.
Required 6 years, 8 months ago
An $8,000 fine? Any good price gouger would surely make more profit than that.
John 6 years, 8 months ago
One of the biggest problems they have in the devastated isythus far is looting. Especially now that another storm Jose is about to hit islands that are 95% destroyed
SP 6 years, 8 months ago
Eagle Electric on Tornique Williams Darling Highway sold me a pack of 2 Duracell "D" size batteries for $11.60 while Rubis West Bay sells the exact same batteries for $9.30!
Obviously, price gouging has already started!!
B_I_D___ 6 years, 8 months ago
I wouldn't call a price differential price gouging...maybe they sold the batteries at that cost for the past several months, they just sell them at a higher price than the competition...technically that is not the last minute gouging. You need to know that same stores price BEFORE the hurricane threat and catch them increasing their price as a reaction to the storm.
ohdrap4 6 years, 8 months ago
and remember also, a small business does buy in bulk quantities so sometimes pays higher prices.
in the Bahamas, the wholesaler also functions as retailer sometimes, thus being able to charge less.
but there is another reason people claim price gouging: different products. Let's say the cheap tuna is gone, and now you have to buy albacore tuna, you then call the radio station to say you paid 2.50 for the tuna instead of a dollar and claim gouging.
but truly, the prices are gouged any time of the day.
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