Bureau of Standards Investigates Complaints of Sugar Price Gouging

While there is controversy over rice, consumers are up in arms over the price of sugar, which is also locally produced. The Bureau of Standards has been hard at work following up official reports of price gouging where local plantation white sugar is concerned. Based on a long-standing request from cane-farmers, G.O.B. approved an increase in the price of sugar by twenty-five cents to seventy-five cents, effective January 2016. Of course, some unscrupulous merchants jumped the gun and tacked on the increase when the decision was announced. Consumers weren’t having it and complaints flooded the Bureau, resulting in immediate action. According to Director Jose Trejo, as long as those complaints keep coming in through official channels, they will continue to investigate and prosecute.

Jose Trejo

On the Phone: Jose Trejo, Director, Belize Bureau of Standards

“To date, we have inspected thirty-five establishments in the country…twelve in Belmopan, eight in Santa Elena, fifteen in Belize City and one distributor. So we have been in the market place trying to ensure two things – one, that the supply is there and that the product is there, the commodity is there and that the merchant is not exceeding the current established price for sugar. We are moving for those complaints that we officially have…we will be acting on those because we have evidence so we will be pursuing those. It gives formality to the complaints, but the complaints that come through the media, complaints that come through the talk shows are not official complaints, so there is no way of giving due process to those complaints. We urge the consumers, we urge the general public to call the bureau, to call the hotline and to be willing to provide documentation and provide evidence so we can pursue it. We are following up and like I said we will be following up those complaints that have come through our office because it gives us the momentum for due process to take place.”

For those who don’t know, the consumer protection hotline is 0-800-TELL-US, or 0-800-283-5587.