Minister Stuart Johnson (left) with TEATT Inspectorate head Lucien Wilson.
PHILIPSBURG–Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (TEATT) Inspectorate head Lucien Wilson recently presented TEATT Minister Stuart Johnson with a copy of the Maximum Price List 2019 Hurricane Items booklet.
The items in the booklets include those considered to be hurricane-related. The items have been regulated by ministerial regulation titled “Regeling prijsvaststelling in verband met uitzonderingstoestanden 2019” (Ministerial Regulation on Price Determination pertaining to a state of emergency 2019).
The booklets contain a full list of the regulated items and the maximum prices at which these may be sold by retailers, to assist the public when making purchases. The ministry said it would print the booklets and distribute them soon.
“The objective of the ministerial regulation is to set preventive measures for price-gouging as has been suspected in the aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017,” Minister Johnson said Sunday.
This move to establish the maximum prices ensures fair pricing of movable goods such as water, groceries, batteries and construction materials that consumers need during a state of emergency such as the aftermath of a hurricane.
This regulation will be in force until November 30. Wilful violations of the law may result in criminal prosecution and a fine of up to NAf. 10,000.
The TEATT Inspectorate has already made its maximum prices known through various publications and said it is making sure that all hardware stores, supermarkets and suppliers of construction material are informed of the existence of this regulation.
The TEATT Ministry has also outlined the obligation of these establishments to comply with the established maximum prices once a state of emergency has been declared.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/90906-minister-johnson-receives-booklet-with-maximum-price-list-for-hurricane-items
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