The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

SIX stores on Grand Bahama were found in breach of selling overpriced breadbasket items during an inspection by Price Control Commission officers in Freeport.

E J Bowe, chairman of the Price Control Commission, reported that inspectors visited eight stores in Freeport, Lucaya and Eight Mile Rock over the past two days and discovered that six of them were selling breadbasket items over the maximum selling price.

While he did not disclose the name of the stores, Mr Bowe said that the violators will be prosecuted in court and fined for various breaches. He said the stores have been given several warnings in the past, but failed to heed them.

According to Mr Bowe, the overpricing ranged from one cent to $3.95.

It was found that tomato paste was overpriced by 34 cents; Sugar by $1.58; corned beef was overpriced 14 cents; mayonnaise by $1.82; rice by 13 cents; flour was hiked up by $2.69; and cooking oil over priced by $3.95.

Mr Bowe found it shocking that the cooking oil so overpriced by merchants.

“Going over the ceiling by one cent is too much for us,” he said, warning merchants to stay within the figures laid down for breadbasket items by the Price Control Commission. “You can go below, but don’t go over because… things are tough already with poor people… and this is one area we have to step up and crack down on.”

Mr Bowe said the commission has to protect consumers so that they are not taken advantage of.

In addition to overpricing, other violations discovered included double pricing, no price mark on shelf items; selling goods not submitted to the Price Control Commission for pricing; and no breadbasket schedule available for customers to see as required by the Price Control Act and its regulations.

He said consumers have the right to check the schedule and make sure that the price on breadbasket items is the same.

It was stressed that accurate weighing scales must be placed in areas where items are sold by weight.

The fine for overpriced breadbasket items is $5,000 per item or one year imprisonment. Failure to price items on the shelf carries a $2,500 fine or six months imprisonment; failing to place a weight scale within reach of the consumer carries a $1,000 fine or three months imprisonment.

Mr Bowe also stated that gasoline and diesel are also price controlled and violators will be fined $5,000 per limit violation.

He noted that selling used and new cars are also under price control. The mark up on used cars can be 15 per cent landed and duty, while new cars mark up is 25 per cent.

“We would like for consumers to watch those cash registers and ensure that items match up with the price on the article being purchased,” he said.

Mr Bowe said that they have encountered merchants who just expect the inspectors to keep giving warnings.

“It is quite clear we cannot allow the merchants to keep on overpricing and nothing happens. And what I find is that they all expect for you to keep giving them warnings.

“They have been given warnings for the past two years. I said to some of them, ‘yes inspectors give you warning to change the price and what happen the next week?’ And my concern is that if we keep giving warning year in and year out, the consumers are being (shafted) all the time, and so something has to done on behalf of the consumers and that is my concern. The time comes when you have to put a full stop to it and do what is right,” he said.