Minister Warns Businesses of Consequences of Price Gouging

Jose Abelardo Mai

Following his appearance on Open your Eyes, Minister Mai made a virtual presentation at the opening ceremony of the Food and Agricultural Organization Regional Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean. He also attended the launch in Spanish Lookout for the U.H.T. milk where he gave further details on the measures being taken to address the issue of price gouging and the offenses that will now be ticketed.

Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture, Food Security & Enterprise

“As we speak right now, the Attorney General’s Office is working on amending the Supplies Control Act. We are now moving to ticketable offenses. Going to a store and seeing that a merchant is gouging is unacceptable especially in these difficult times. So instead of taking them to court and going through a lengthy process and then two years later the court rules, that will not be the case. Our officers now will walk into a store. Let me tell you what the offenses are? If you walk into a store and the price controlled goods are not itemized; that is an infraction, you are breaking the law. If you go to the store and the corn beef does not have no price on it – that is another violation. If I ask you for your invoices and you do not have it – that is another infraction. And all these we are ticketing probably two-fifty, three hundred. But besides that, other than ticketing you, we are closing down your store, you go pay your tickets and when you come and bring the receipts, you will reopen. But we will also make it public so that the public know that you have been caught gouging. It’s up to you then if you want to go and buy there. But I am certain after we do this to the first ten stores, they will fix up because nobody wants to lose customers. But gouging is not allowed, in particular at this time when things are so difficult.”