The Tribune

By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

PRICE Control Commission Chairman EJ Bowe has defended himself from recent criticism by the Democratic National Alliance that he was intentionally targeting “companies owned by members of the DNA” and hit out at the party members for having “short (term) memory”.

Mr Bowe, who has recently conducted price control inspections in Super Value stores and made comments about price increases at Galleria Cinemas, enterprises owned operated by DNA members, told The Tribune that while conducting inspections he does not “pick on” specific business.

“In fact I don’t even bother to check who owns the stores,” Mr Bowe said in a recent interview. “When I go in, I just ask for the manager.”

Two weeks ago, DNA Leader Branville McCartney accused Mr Bowe of targeting “at least three companies owned by members of the DNA” and attempting to cast the entrepreneurs as “unscrupulous price gougers”.

Mr McCartney claimed that Mr Bowe’s appointment as PCC chairman was indicative of the government’s and its “agents’” decision to “victimise and castigate business owners over their attempts to remain viable in the new environment”. He advised Mr Bowe not to be “suckered into doing things that’s not right”.

Defending himself from the criticism, Mr Bowe said: “They seem to have short (term) memory. When we started off, we went to the store in East Bay shopping centre. That must belong to them too. We went to the Xtra Value by COB near the Guardian. Those were before we went to Galleria and Super Value. Super Value has many stores, so obviously we would end up going there more than we would go to another brand store.

“I don’t see how that could say we are picking at them, unless those stores are theirs also, but I’m not aware of that. How I got to the (Galleria) cinemas, we got many calls from consumers complaining about it. So we check out all complaints from consumers, and that happened to be one where we got more complaints from consumers than any other place.

“What is amazing, when you check the Price Control Act and its regulation, it states clearly that the PCC has the authority to go to wherever goods and services are being offered for sale in this country. And we are to advise the minister accordingly on goods and services being offered, not only on price control goods. Now for price control goods, we could prosecute those who violate those laws. We cannot prosecute those other items which are not price controlled, but certainly we have the authority to investigate and check to see that it’s in order.”

Two weeks ago, Mr Bowe and a team of price control inspectors conducted price control inspections at several Super Value locations amid concerns from consumers about price gouging. Super Value is owned by Mr Rupert Roberts, a member of the DNA. A week earlier, Mr Bowe also criticised price increases at Galleria Cinemas, a company owned by DNA Deputy Leader Chris Mortimer.

Mr Bowe’s concerns about pricing at the cinema came after Galleria Cinemas posted notices in its ticket windows informing customers that in compliance with Value Added Tax (VAT) legislation, prices would increase as of January 1. However, the ticket prices saw an increase of 17.6 per cent and 11 per cent (VAT-inclusive) in adult and children’s tickets respectively. VAT is levied at 7.5 per cent.

Mr Bowe reportedly called the price increases “outrageous,” and pledged that the commission would look into the matter.

Mr Mortimer responded, suggesting that the spike in prices was in line with VAT regulations, and also criticised Mr Bowe for making an assessment about an industry that he “does not understand”.

Shortly afterwards, Mr McCartney accused Mr Bowe of launching an “unwarranted and unprovoked attack” on businesses owned by DNA members.

He said Mr Bowe’s inspections were an attempt to “deflect from (the government’s) own titanic failures on VAT”. He also said Mr Bowe’s appointment as PCC chairman was indicative of the government’s and its “agents’” decision to “victimise and castigate business owners over their attempts to remain viable in the new environment”.

Yesterday, however, Mr Bowe said he would not be “distracted from what (the DNA) and others might say”.

“Our jobs simply are to protect the consumers of this country, and nothing is going to distract us from that,” he said. “All I will say to that is for them to check out the many others who were brought out of retirement during not only this (Christie) administration, all former administrations, and check to see what happened there. I know mine is the norm. Nothing is irregular about it. And with regard to as if I’m being prompted by government to go out there.

“Members of the government they know me too well for that. No one dictates to me. Once you give me a job to do, that I am going to do. I don’t take dictation from no one onto that there. Certainly, no one in government or opposition tells me say, ‘check this store’ or ‘go that way’. I don’t operate like that. I operate without fear or favour and treat everyone accordingly.

“We in the Price Commission and consumer protection, we want to build a harmonious relationship with the merchants. We’re not out to get them. We only want them to comply with the Price Control Act and its regulations. Now that the VAT is on, comply with that too. Now if you don’t comply, then I’m coming after you, on behalf of the consumers.”