Government Steps Up Enforcement, But Can It Rein in Prices?

The push to protect consumers is ramping up, but questions remain about who’s really in control of prices. The Supplies Control Unit says it’s getting tougher, doubling its staff, opening new offices across the country, and teaming up with the Police Training Academy to boost enforcement. But as those efforts expand, one key issue comes into focus, when it comes to unregulated goods, is anyone actually setting the price, or is it a free-for-all?

 

Lennox Nicholson, Controller of Supplies, Supplies Control Unit

“The milder way to put it is that it is left to competitive forces and market forces. One of the key things for those goods is for the consumer to exercise their right to choose. That is key. Sometimes I think consumer becomes creatures of habit and you get accustomed to shopping at one location, because you are not moving around you are not aware if there is a better deal on a particular product at another location. And I think that is something that consumers in this day and age where you are trying to maximize your purchasing power, that is something consumers should pay more attention to.”

 

Paul Lopez

“At what point do you determine they are price gouging?”

 

Lennox Nicholson

“You establish their purchase cost. You look at what they are retailing the product for and there is a basic calculation of percentage. Once they are outside of that they are in violation and we have to deal with it.”

 

Lennox says the unit is also working to increase its surveillance.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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