By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

AS some residents complain about soaring prices of “bread and basket” items, inspection officers countered yesterday that they have observed no illegal price increases “in some time”.

However, the Ministry of Labour and National Insurance’s Chief Inspection Officer, Sidney McKenzie, admitted to The Tribune that the number of inspection officers in his unit has decreased, preventing it from inspecting stores as effectively as it otherwise could.

Only four inspectors work in the unit, he said, adding that the “limited personnel” has reduced the “frequency at which the unit inspects stores”.

His admission raises questions about whether the unit should have additional manpower particularly at a time when some residents continue to complain that stores are illegally raising the prices of bread and basket items four months before Value Added Tax (VAT) is implemented.

Even when VAT is implemented, basic food items will be exempt from the tax, State Minister for Finance, Michael Halkitis, emphasized yesterday.

Mr McKenzie said inspection officers conduct inspections on a daily basis “to ensure that the Price Control Act and regulations are being applied”.

Pressed on this, he said the average New Providence store is inspected at least once every two and a half months.

He also suggested that some residents may be confusing store owners’ decision to sell items at the maximum allowable price for a decision to sell items at an illegal price.

“Some stores do run specials when they get reduced prices from wholesalers,” he said.

“But then the next week when you go back there that same item might no longer be on special; it has gone back to its regular price. If they haven’t exceeded the maximum retail price for that item, they haven’t committed any violation but the consumers might feel they jacked the price up. They may read it as an inflation of the price which it really isn’t.”

He urged residents to alert the Price Control Unit when they discover illegal price hikes.

He said people who sell bread and basket items for more than what is allowed could face as much as a $5000 fine.

He added that the law stipulates no limit on the price of non-bread and basket items.