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Resident rubbishes Premier’s claims of little price difference in St. Thomas

“I did the math here & it don’t work out!” – Resident says
One resident has claimed that after doing the math following Premier Smith’s assertions that there is little difference between local prices and those in St Thomas, they have realised that this is not the case. Photo: VINO
Hosts of the Speak Your Mind TV show, Richard Courtney de Castro (left) and Julio Sam Henry were in agreement with the resident. Photo: VINO/File
Hosts of the Speak Your Mind TV show, Richard Courtney de Castro (left) and Julio Sam Henry were in agreement with the resident. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – One resident has claimed that after doing the math following Premier Smith’s assertions that there is little difference between local prices and those in St Thomas, they have realised that this is not the case.

“I have to save up to go and to get what I need to get for my children to go to school because I did the math here and it don’t work out,” the resident claimed on the Speak Your Mind TV show aired on August 31, 2013.

According to the resident, after shopping locally and trying to buy food stuff they realised that this was not working, “when I go down in St Thomas is bulk…” the resident continued.

Co-host of the programme, Julio Sam Henry said, “You’re the right kind of person, bring your receipt so we could compare sometimes, so when the Premier saying that the price points are the same we could ask him in what category.”

“A case of tofu [in St Thomas] is $23.50, you know how much for a tofu [in Tortola], almost $4. Twelve are in a case… almost $50 for a case here in Tortola,” the resident said.

Host of the programme, Richard Courtney de Castro said the caller was on to something and reasoned that the ability to purchase staple food items was also an indicator of the state of the economy. “If that [food] basket cannot be purchased for a certain price we’re not in the game,” he said.

“If you would look at the prices in the supermarkets in the BVI and compare them with the prices in St Thomas and given all the factors combined, I think you would appreciate that there is very little difference,” Premier Smith said during a press conference last month.

The Premier, while admitting that there were other factors such as transportation costs which gave VI businesses less of an advantage, further stated that in some instances prices in St Thomas are lower while in others, prices in the Virgin Islands are lower. He also indicated that no new relief measures are expected from government for local shoppers.

“Apparently the economy is doing good for some people. It looks like it has two different classes of people living here in this country – the rich and the poor,” the resident asserted.

According to the resident, poor people in the Virgin Islands are suffering.

29 Responses to “Resident rubbishes Premier’s claims of little price difference in St. Thomas”

  • confused (03/09/2013, 08:20) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Are the prices lower for some items in St. Thomas and Virgin Islands...are they not the same place..What is the distinction?
    • i was hacked (03/09/2013, 09:04) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
      The difference is THE Virgin Islands are mad eup of Tola, VG, JVD, Anegada . while st.thomas is part of the U.S virgin islands, NOT THE virgin islands.
      • Well Sah (04/09/2013, 09:09) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        And the ones you mentioned are part of the British Virgin Islands so stop the nonsense,
    • confused bvislander (03/09/2013, 11:36) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
      BVI Tourist Board, BVI Electricity Corp. BVI Government and services....It seems quite a disservice for anyone dealing with over seas people to understand who we are....and not the USVI...particularly the hospitality area, the Post Office, other shipping conveniences, information with long distance phones to these islands, etc......We are the British Virgin Islands east of the US Virgin Islands, and we are connected to the UK and they are connected to the US.
      • agreed (03/09/2013, 12:39) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
        this makes sense.....BVI islanders so like to tell u how they born here....well say from where correctly...we are British so there for we are the British Virgin Islands!!!! be proud people like the USVI people and tell the world who we are!!!!!!! British Virgin Islanders!!!!
      • vi (03/09/2013, 13:29) Like (2) Dislike (3) Reply
        Confused bvislander, we have always been the Virgin Islands, we allow the Virgin Islands of the United States (St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John to force us to refer to ourselves as British Virgin Islands, because they won't stop using Virgin Islands and causing a confusion. They were the Danish West Indies for centuries, while we were always the Virgin Islands. We had trouble receiving mail and other goods due to the confusion it was causing. Not to mention tourist board could not risk advertising the Virgin Islands and people getting confused and going the US Virgin Islands. I do thing internally VI and Virgin Islands should be used more and all those agencies and business that name BVI this and BVI that should change to VI.
  • true blood (03/09/2013, 08:28) Like (12) Dislike (10) Reply
    hahaha makes no sense caller how can poor people be suffering when they have the most expensive cellular phone, cars, shoes, and all the order expensive material things...
  • corn pork (03/09/2013, 08:31) Like (8) Dislike (14) Reply
    dr smith does not have a clue the he is now the new doctor do little!
  • vi (03/09/2013, 08:52) Like (16) Dislike (0) Reply
    I do find it have some items in St. Thomas that are more money than Tortola or the same. An example is Similac infant formula, and some lotions and hair products. But for the most part prices in St. Thomas are way better than Tortola especially when it comes to food. We can live without a lot of things, but we got to eat.
  • 1Q (03/09/2013, 09:46) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Those goods don't come straight here so it double shipping, st. thomas and then tola. the USVI only paying for shipping, we paying for shipping and duties. If all the stores were willing to cooperate, they would try to ship in items together. then you can be more competitive with the price, just a thought. consumers now padding up to buy st. thomas.
    • ? (03/09/2013, 12:03) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      what happened to some of the relief consumers were supposed to feel from them not having to pay duty anymore?
      • hah (04/09/2013, 07:50) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
        The exemption was only for wharfage, so basically 1%. That was never really going to change prices. I believe that there should be no duties on fresh fruit and vegetables to encourage healthy eating habits.
  • ta ta (03/09/2013, 10:41) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    we can never beleive anything this governemnt says
  • vip ooooo . Same Blogger (03/09/2013, 10:45) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    NDP is the blame for this right vip ooooo . ????

    Even though we have been running to St Thomas to shop since the late 80's!
  • international (03/09/2013, 11:13) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    You must understand that St. Thomas is a U.S. territory. They don't have to pay the high import prices like Tola do. Tola is considered international. Then you have to factor in the cost of a round trip ticket. The food may be cheaper, but it still sorts of adds up when you factor in tickets, taxi, customs etc. But.... prices are ridiculosly high on Tola. A box of cereal for 7.00, the milk is damn near the same price. That's 14.00 for two items.... oh plus money to put them in a bag. No wonder people does tek up.
    • VIslander (03/09/2013, 12:58) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
      It all depends on how much and what items you buy on your trip. For instance, if you go down every three months or so and buy certain items in bulk, it works out better, even when you factor in tickets, duty etc. I will tell you though that since One Mart's re-launch, the need to go to St. Thomas for a lot of things have deminished. Just thought I'd share that and you really have to count the cost.
      • VI 2 (04/09/2013, 13:39) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        Yes, this is true since One Mart reload we have no need to buy Laundry Detergent, Toilet Papar, Paper Towel, Capri Sun Juices to name a few for St. Thomas and as a frequent shopper in St. Thomas and seeing what is brought up on the boat, these thing are no longer bought in St. Thomas
  • dead man (03/09/2013, 12:20) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Dr. Smith very well now the prices in the bvi and St. Thomas is like night and day, his speech writers and consultants need to be fired.
  • ooooo (03/09/2013, 12:47) Like (6) Dislike (10) Reply
    steak, cavier, lobster and hennessy cost the same all over so maybe thats why he is saying that the prices are the same? dem man only eat and drink top of the line
  • student (03/09/2013, 14:34) Like (1) Dislike (15) Reply
    Ayo BVI people should not compare food prices with STT. We St. Thomas people lives off of food stamps.No work in STT goverment must provide. The goverment of the BVIn is right prices are more or less the same.
  • zusa (03/09/2013, 16:42) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    NDP remains out of touch with reality
  • we (03/09/2013, 18:23) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Just to let u know the price for a case of tilapia is about $26.00an tola get it for$45.00or so lets all do the math
  • pat (03/09/2013, 23:11) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    St Thomas sells a package of pads of papers for a set price. Here in BVI, that package is broken up and the individual pads of paper are sold separately for XXX more money.
  • GoonSquad 2 (04/09/2013, 05:36) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    I say again Dr. Smith Speech writers and the ton of overseas consultants are not giving him value for money. First they told him to say the economy robust; a big fat lie, now he say the prices in St. Thomas and Tortola are the same; another big fat lie.

    Gosh he need to get back to the streets as he will be better off being advise by the Bozy on the block!!! As he chatting a load of cocka-may-may!
  • VG Shopper (04/09/2013, 11:09) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Unsure as to where the caller buys their tofu but you can get it on VG for $2.65 and my bet is if you ask for a case it would be even less. Yes, you can pay more but shop around before buying.
  • dead man (05/09/2013, 00:48) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Dr. Smith's words give validation to the NDP's incompetence?


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