By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

DNA Leader Branville McCartney yesterday accused Price Control Commission Chairman EJ Bowe of targeting “at least three companies owned by members of the DNA” and attempting to cast the entrepreneurs “unscrupulous price gougers”.

At a press conference yesterday, Mr McCartney warned Mr Bowe not to be “suckered into doing things that’s not right”.

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”.

“(Mr Bowe) went to a movie house that is not covered by consumer protection laws with regards to movie tickets, brought the cameras, and said the prices were too high,” Mr McCartney said. “But he didn’t do anything from a legal standpoint because he couldn’t do anything about it from a legal standpoint. It was out of his jurisdiction. It was out of his jurisdiction to even go there.

“Don’t be suckered into doing things that’s not right,” he added. “Don’t be doing things against the business houses that’s not right. You don’t eat movie tickets, my friend. You don’t drink movie tickets, my friend. You don’t inhale movie tickets. We take offense to that, and you (Mr Bowe) are out of order, very much out of order.”

Mr McCartney’s statements came after Mr Bowe, with 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 Rupert Roberts, a member of the DNA.

Last week, Mr Bowe also hit out at price increases at Galleria Cinemas, a company owned by DNA Deputy Leader Chris Mortimer. He spoke to reporters outside the cinema’s Mall at Marathon location, calling its price increases “outrageous”.

He pledged that the commission would look into the matter.

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

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

Mr McCartney yesterday said Mr Bowe’s inspections were an attempt to “deflect from (the government’s) own titanic failures on VAT”.

“After already receiving his pensions and gratuities, Bowe has returned to the public service to collect a salary from the Treasury, while countless Bahamians remain out of work,” Mr McCartney added. “Now, under the guise of consumer protectionism, Bowe in his new role has launched an unwarranted and unprovoked attack on businesses owned by members of the DNA and countless others.

“Rather than take legitimate steps to address the myriad of problems which plague the business community in the wake of VAT implementation, this PLP government and its agents have chosen instead to victimise and castigate business owners over their attempts to remain viable in the new environment.”