By FAY SIMMONS

Tribune Business Reporter

jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

Officials from the Bahamas Trade Commission and consumer watchdog yesterday met with leading merchants to discuss ways to lower the cost of living and improve the customer experience.

Senator Barry Griffin, deputy chairman of the National Trade Commission, said the initiative is a collaborative effort between itself and the Consumer Protection Commission in a bid to address consumer grievances. He added that his agency is reaching out to retailers to encourage them to participate in the Government’s trade diversification initiative, which will allow them to source goods from alternative markets at a lower price.

“As it relates to the Bahamas Trade Commission, we are pushing the Government’s cost of living agenda, encouraging all grocers to get involved in our national trade diversification programme, in which we seek to introduce them to diverse suppliers across the world that would allow us to lower the price of goods here,” said Mr Griffin. “We also offer other assistance and research that we found as it relates to trade products and consumer activity.”

Senator Randy Rolle, the Consumer Protection Commission’s (CPC) chairman, said his agency is continuing to work with the private sector to address consumer complaints and improve the quality of goods provided.

“We are just keeping engaged with the stores, letting them know that the Government wants to work collaboratively with them to find ways to better the consumer experience,” he said. “Whether it’s through incentive programmes such as offering shopping bags for free, encouraging them to do programmes that lower the cost of goods for the holiday season or resolving any number of complaints or concerns we may have received.”

“We are speaking to the businesses privately, allowing them an opportunity to correct and address things and really taking a very collaborative approach to working with the private sector.” Mr Griffin said the agencies wish to partner with Bahamian merchants to lower the price of goods and ensure quality is maintained, which will ultimately benefit consumers.

“We want to see the Government and the private sector work more closely together as partners with the view that consumers have the ultimate benefit from this. The Government has certain resources that we can provide and we want the private sector to lead the way,” said Mr Griffin.

“The main thing that we’re pushing for is lowering the cost of living by lowering the cost of goods in stores, but also generally improving the experience in terms of how Bahamians feel when they go in knowing that the produce is fresh, all products that can spoil have sell by dates and bettering consumer welfare, and a big part of that is simply lowering the cost.”

Mr Griffin said the response from retailers that have been engaged was “encouraging” and they indicated they would like to collaborate further with the Government. “The reception has been extremely great. They have indicated that they’ve never seen this before, and they were interested to hear about more about our agencies and what we do and how they can contact us to work closely on these issues,” he said.

“We provided a lot of research, anecdotal and observational information that we’ve gotten from consumers, and they were very happy to receive that information. It’s obviously a work in progress, and we’re starting from the ground and working out, but we’re very encouraged by their reception.”

Mr Griffin said the Trade Commission is “heavily focused” on providing cost savings in the retail and construction sectors, and is also working with the Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation (BAIC) to lower the cost of products used in the farming and fishing sectors.

“At the Bahamas Trade Commission, we’re heavily focused on the retail grocery sector. So that includes grocery stores, supermarkets and convenience stores and pharmacies. We are also focused on the construction and building sector; that’s another major industry that we found Bahamians would like to see some cost savings,” said Mr Griffin.

“We are working with BAIC to assist our farmers, agriculturalists and fishermen in procuring more cost-effective inputs. Whether it’s chicken feed, or the boxes for products or fishing equipment, we want to get them better quality products and cheaper products, and that cost savings is passed on to the consumer.

“For example, a little-known fact is that the boxes that you put products in are very expensive and that, in itself, increases the cost of local goods. So if we can find cheaper boxes that are fit for purpose, that in itself could lower the cost of products in The Bahamas.”