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‘zero tolerance’ on price gouging- Premier Fahie

- said discussions on price gouging & other related matters to be held with Trade Department
Supermarkets across the Territory have been busy with shoppers, who have cleaned shelves of items such as disinfectant sprays and wipes, toilet papers, paper towels, oranges and vitamin tablets. Photo: Internet Source
Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) in a public statement on latest measures by Government in responding proactively to COVID-19, said Cabinet noted that discussions on price gouging and other related matters would be held with the Department of Trade, Investment Promotions and, as well as other stakeholders. Photo: VINO/File
Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) in a public statement on latest measures by Government in responding proactively to COVID-19, said Cabinet noted that discussions on price gouging and other related matters would be held with the Department of Trade, Investment Promotions and, as well as other stakeholders. Photo: VINO/File
Hand sanitisers and certain disinfectants have become high in demand across the Territory. Photo: Internet Source
Hand sanitisers and certain disinfectants have become high in demand across the Territory. Photo: Internet Source
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Although there have not been widespread reports of price-gouging in the Virgin Islands due to Coronavirus fears, there have been reports of panic buying. Supermarkets across the Territory have been busy with shoppers, who have cleaned shelves of items such as disinfectant sprays and wipes, toilet papers, paper towels, oranges and vitamin tablets.

With the demands for these items at a high, there is the possibility of unscrupulous businesspersons jacking up prices for these commodities as was the case after hurricanes Irma and Maria in September 2017.

In fact, in some countries with confirmed cases of the Coronavirus, there have been reports of businesses raising their prices for certain items by as much as 500 percent.

The Government of the Virgin Islands; however, has sent an early warning for persons intent on engaging in price gouging.

Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) in a public statement on latest measures by Government in responding proactively to COVID-19, said Cabinet noted that discussions on price gouging and other related matters would be held with the Department of Trade, Investment Promotions and, as well as other stakeholders.

“Your Government has zero tolerance for this type of negative behaviour,” Premier Fahie stated.

No need for panic buying

Hon Fahie also said there is no benefit to be derived from panicking, “absolutely no benefit to be derived, and panic buying.”

He urged persons to be level-headed, informed, and calm, adding that the measures being put in place by Government will ensure that all aspects of this challenge can and will be handled in an orderly fashion.

He also called for prayers.

“We in the BVI are all too familiar with the power of Prayer. Nothing is too big for GOD!

“I am calling on our Kingdom Ambassadors and prayer warriors to petition God. Let us pray individually and collectively that God will protect our Territory and people from this plague. Together we must use what is in our hands, the Power of Prayer and Faith in God that he will protect us.

By His Grace and Love we shall overcome this challenge. We will get through this together.

I thank you and I promise that we will keep you informed.”

30 Responses to “‘zero tolerance’ on price gouging- Premier Fahie”

  • Get them good (15/03/2020, 08:23) Like (47) Dislike (0) Reply
    In Miami, a store got caught price gouging and was slap with a $30,000 dollar fine. I see any business here that I go into gouging the customers, I am going to turn you in and drop the business name and owner’s name all over the internet.
    • voter (15/03/2020, 11:09) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
      Where is the consumer protection legislation?? Was it passed in the house?? We need it now!!!
    • Business as usual (15/03/2020, 18:41) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
      The lack of competition in the BVI, and the refusal to allow new competitive businesses in, means that price gouging is the norm in the BVI. I now do my food shopping in STT again. Much better value even with the fuel for my boat and customs duty!
  • No Joking (15/03/2020, 08:43) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    I usually know what the regular price of something cost. If I go into a store and the price is extremely high from before, I am going to spray paint in Red PAINT PRICE GOUGER on the front of your business.
  • Roscoe (15/03/2020, 09:21) Like (10) Dislike (1) Reply

    R......sale set of criminals guilty price gouging.

  • Stock Market (15/03/2020, 09:46) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    supermarkets should have placed a limit on some of these items early. some people just one one bottle hand sanitizer but some jerk want buy 10 one time
  • i know (15/03/2020, 10:55) Like (13) Dislike (2) Reply
    As a customer that patronize BVI businesses, I will not tolerate any businesses that is taking advantage of any customers including myself price gouging. I see this, I will expose you. I don’t care who you are.
  • Secret Shopper (15/03/2020, 11:03) Like (16) Dislike (2) Reply
    I am watching all the stores in secret, you gouge the customers, I am going to report you. This is not going to be a repeat of what happened when the storms blew through and I was charged $20.00 for a bag of ice.
  • question (15/03/2020, 12:26) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    BVI imports all its goods. US supermarkets empty too. Can't find the needed items. So how you can say to the people be level-headed? Is not this a level-headed person will do ... ensure that he or she has quantities to last especially when you do not know where and when the next supplies will be available?

    Every store in USA do not have alcohol, Clorox or disinfectant wipes, hand sanitizers. They say the truck coming this day and by time you go that day they are still out!
    • usa (15/03/2020, 15:40) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
      Not all the stores. You can find the above mentioned but you have to drive to find it. I live in Maryland and I drove over to West Virginia a 25 minute drive to a Super Walmart and they had everything that I needed.
  • ta ta (15/03/2020, 13:23) Like (6) Dislike (2) Reply
    Thanks hon fahie for looking out for your people
  • Sandra (15/03/2020, 13:29) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    after the hurricane the lady with the shop by the well had a case of water for 20.00 dollars a case
  • soooo (15/03/2020, 14:40) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    What is the solution? What is the Premier going to do about it? If he had sincere intentions, his Gov would have done something about this long standing issue when he took office, as he had promised. He also owns a store but..
    Bottom line,gouge or no gouge, the products are flying off the shelves so frankly there are no repercussions. Defacing a store is a crime per law so that type of retalliation is self defeating..
  • From BVI, Baltimore (15/03/2020, 15:32) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Today when I went out to buy groceries at Walmart, that is when things really hit me, the shelves were half empty. Had to drive around to find bread and milk. The vibes in the City feels weird, even the local gangsters is laying low. People is just going out if they have to go to work or the grocery stores and running back indoors.
  • online (15/03/2020, 15:56) Like (8) Dislike (6) Reply
    At a particular super market their oranges went from 3 for .99 cents to 0ne for .79 cents.
    • Norris Turnbull (15/03/2020, 18:40) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply

      You are afraid to say one.....? I saw that also. Limes all of a sudden are 45c for one.

    • Just reading (15/03/2020, 19:47) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      They did not gouge the price of the 3 for .99 oranges. they are out of stock, and the ones for .79 cents, is a different one.
      • not so (15/03/2020, 22:35) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
        It’s the same oranges with the same sku nos I have some from last week and the ones I bought this week.
    • Madness (16/03/2020, 13:42) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Yes, this is so true, I turned to to cashier and asked what's going on here, this is ridiculous, but the time I got outside I called other regular shoppers and they say is 3 for .99 cents ...
  • asking for a friend (15/03/2020, 16:10) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    where is the consumer protection Bill?
  • watch (15/03/2020, 16:42) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Hand sanitizer at Bobbys .... $ 4.99
    Same bottle in Sea Cows gas station .... almost DOUBLE . Just sayin
    • Call me crazy (15/03/2020, 17:34) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
      But the price gouging is all over the place. I figure out a way to make my own face mask. Take two sheets of bounty paper towel cut it to the size of your face, flatten a coffee paper filter and place between the two pieces of paper towel and staple edges closed. Put a hole on each side of the mask and use rubber bands to secure the mask over your ears. Can be worn for three hours and then discard in the trash. I came up with the concept when I could not find surgical masks.
  • Ghost (15/03/2020, 18:08) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    Minister I applaud you for Always looking to God for help..I know this article is about price gouging but what we all need to be doing is praying fervently for God to remove this plague from the earth..prayer changes things..
    2 Chronicles 7:
    13 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;
    14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
    God is the only one that can call “this” back and keep our country safe..if persons were afraid of God like they are this virus our home would be better off..Let us all as the Premier said pray together or by ourselves for God to call this plague back from the earth and in praying let us pray for each other including the nurses and doctors etc in the front line saving lives .. regardless of race or country of origin God made us all.. but we have a habit of coming together in a crisis and when that’s over we revert back to our wicked ways.. I truly believe God spoke in Irma and He’s speaking again but are we listening ..
  • Ghost (15/03/2020, 18:17) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    Re: the increase food buying because of panic
    Proverbs 10: 3 The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked... (God will Always provide food etc for His children).. in this time we have to Trust that God have His children covered.. and those of you that don’t know Him you should seek Him while He can still be found..
  • Amazing (15/03/2020, 19:23) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply

    Y’all some reactive a$$ ppl if I ever seen um. Corona virus is the least of our problems as it pertains to price gouging. Soon corona will be gone along her merry way and we will still be paying all our life savings to TH*****G companies like CCT, Digicel, Flow, Aeropost, EZone, Rite Way, Medicure Pharmacy, Eureka Medical Clinic, Bougainvillea Clinic, and I could go on but you get my drift. Stop trying to make the people believe you all are so concerned about the cost of living here when we have been suffering and continue to suffer. Corona isn’t causing anything to happen that doesn’t happen here ALL THEE TIME. Give me a break.

  • Diaspora (15/03/2020, 23:47) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Businesses, our eyes are on you! During a crisis and emergency when consumers are at their lowest, it despicable for any business to gouge customers and they should be put on blass and boycotted out of business. In Antigua, after a hurricane, a business (withholding name, for the business got its just due)despicably gouged customers and customers boycotted it clean out of business. This should happen to any BVI business. Cost of living in the BVI is high and skyrocketing. Prices are high due to limited competition and greed; greed can be fix now but competition may take a little longer.
  • lol (16/03/2020, 21:31) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    he had the opportunity to implement price control and refuse to do so. Talk is cheap


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