Nassau, July 2, 2019 – Bahamas – Merchants are being warned of price infractions on breadbasket items and price gouging.
Daniel Sumner, Price Commission
Chairman, said the Commission is actively pursuing complaints of alleged price
infractions on items including butter, cheese, cooking oil, corned beef,
evaporated milk, flour, grits, margarine, mayonnaise, rice and tomato paste.
The Chairman spoke recently at a
Press Conference at the Department of Labour, Rosetta Street. Members of the Price Commission board were
present.
“These cases are considered to
be serious breaches of the Price Control Act and the Price Commission is
actively pursuing these matters in conjunction with the relevant law
enforcement authorities and we wish to put merchants on notice that those found
guilty will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said Mr. Sumner.
He assured the public that in
its quest to protect the interests of all consumers, the Commission has
intensified its partnership with the National Emergency Management Agency
(NEMA) and with consumer boards and law enforcement agencies to ensure that
consumers are not unfairly treated particularly during the Hurricane season.
The Chairman encouraged
merchants to ensure that they have the correct prices on all food and goods,
particularly breadbasket food items that are made available for sale to the
public. Price gouging has a penalty of a fine not exceeding $5,000 per item.
He urged the public to use the
Price Commission’s hotline number – (242) 376-1157 to report complaints of
overpriced food items that they have purchased or if they suspect that they
have been unfairly taken advantage of.
Moreover, Mr. Sumner expressed
concerns of hoarding by major grocery stores. The fine for hoarding is $2,500
per item.
“In accordance with Chapter 339
Price Regulation subsection 5 it is an offense for a Vendor to withhold an item
that can be sold immediately,” he said.
Furthermore, the Chairman
announced that the Commission has conducted price inspections on Long Island
and Andros and will be making surprise visits to other islands.
“The Commission is fully
committed to paying close attention to the pricing, standard, quality, shipping
and handling of food items that are on the grocers’ shelves on the Family
Islands. Further, we will be observing the excessive pricing of gasoline on the
Family Islands,” said Mr. Sumner.
By Kathryn Campbell
Photo Captions
Header: Earl Godet, deputy chairman, speaks to the media about price control infractions. Also shown (2nd from left), Daniel Sumner, chairman, and Huel Robins, board member. Also present was Freddie Munnings, board member. (BIS Photos/Patrick Hanna)