Less competition leads to higher prices, and that hurts everyone, but government hasn’t done anything to help the average consumer in the territory, said at-large candidate Preston Stoutt last week during the first in a planned series of “Lunch Hour Leadership” events.
But it doesn’t have to be this way, Mr. Stoutt argued. Government, he said, could enact legislation to boost competition and lower prices in many areas.
According to Mr. Stoutt’s plan, “Creating a Fair Consumer Economy for all BVIslanders,” managing food cost will take consumer protection legislation to tackle the issues of import duties, expired goods on shelves and potential conflicts of interest between shipping companies and wholesalers. For example, Mr. Stoutt proposes eliminating the duty on shipping itself.
Although the territory has a Department of Trade and Consumer Affairs, ostensibly responsible for ensuring good business practices, “there seems to be no enforcement of implementation” by that body, Mr. Stoutt said in a published policy on consumers.
See the Aug. 25, 2011 edition for full coverage.