Overcharging of LPG described as “epidemic”

cylinderDirector of Trade, Matthan Walter has appealed to vendors of Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) to adhere to prices announced for the product by the Division of Trade.

The price of LPG has gone down in Dominica because of the drop in oil prices on the international market but vendors across the island are not sticking to the prices and are actually charging customers more.

The matter has been described as “epidemic” and Walter pointed out that it is an offense to charge customers more than what is stipulated by the government.

The new prices came into effect on March 2 and are as follows: 20lbs cylinder, $25.63; 27.5 lbs cylinder, $34.87; 30lbs cylinder, $37.94 while the 100lbs cylinder costs $125.15.

“What I really want to add is really an appeal to the vendors of the Liquid Petroleum Gas to adhere to the announced prices by the Division of Trade…” he told Dominica News Online. “It is an offense not to do that and we have had an epidemic where those vendors continue to sell above the price and therefore not allowing the consumer to benefit from the fall in the price of petroleum products.”

He stated that laws are in place to control prices and “the Price Control Act is quite clear as to the actions that the Ministry of Trade as the implementing organ can take.”

However, he stated that the Ministry of Trade does not want to go down that route.

“We know that in Dominica where persons are moral conscious and so we have an obligation that if government has stated that is the price for the gas cylinder, then we should sell it at that price because the price already includes a profit margin and it also includes transportation cost for the price of fuel,” Walter explained.

Meantime Walter is warning that at any given time the price of fuel can fluctuate.

“We saw over the past few months an unprecedented drop in the price of fuel because of an oversupply on the market. And so what we have been trying to do is ensure that the consumer gets the more accurate price for fuel on the ground in accordance with the Supply Control Act by which we are guided,” he stated. “We in the Ministry of Trade simply wait on the posting for over the next 4 weeks and then we determine whether there is an up or down movement in the price of fuel.”

This is about the third time that the prices of petroleum products have dropped in Dominica since oil prices continue to plummet on the international market.

Below are the outlets and prices for LPG cooking gas across the island.

outletoutlet1

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22 Comments

  1. LANGLu
    March 8, 2015

    mr mathan walter. sir since your have exposed the truth about the LPG you should also exposed the truth about the petrol we all use in our cars. gas came as low as 48 dollars per barrel and we are still paying 10 dollars per gallon. i used to pay about 6.75 per gallon in 1995 and the barrel was about 45 dollars… can you tell us why are we still paying 10 dollars. and why is the government reaping off the public.

  2. originaljahguide
    March 8, 2015

    Yes. I agree, but tell your Government that they need to further reduce the price of petrol for vehicle owners as well. They are also rubbing us.

  3. The Facts
    March 8, 2015

    Were the vendors not informed of the decreased cost?
    The minister should not hesitate to bring a charge against them. Make them pay for it.
    It is the height of inconsideration and thievery that they continue to overcharge the customers. They should refund them the overcharge. This is why it is imperative that they issue receipts. This should be included in the Law.
    Dominica should have a Consumers’ Protection Law to report this breach and lay charges against those perpetrators.

  4. smh
    March 7, 2015

    Some of the vendors raise the price because they want to pay the driver who transported the cylinder from town. It’s just like buying a bottle of oil in the country and that same oil in roseau the difference in price is ridiculous but as consumers we have choice. I am not in no way agreeing with the vendors for keeping the prices the same. .. They should lower the price because they are purchasing it cheaper.

  5. Langue kabwit
    March 7, 2015

    Mr Walters has to serious about what he says. To start with he says that his Ministry can take the necessary steps if vendors are overcharging but at the same time he states that they donot want to go down that way. Is he talking from both sides of his mouth? These vendors do what they want because there is no price control, who goes around to see how much they sell the LPG gas, as close as Pichelin this lady sells it at $40.00 up to this present day magwaysa, these people have no conscience. Will someone please look out for the poor and underprivileged.

  6. sout man
    March 7, 2015

    Pichelin is 45 dollars a 20 pound cylinder mahgwaysah

  7. Anonymous
    March 6, 2015

    How could we honestly expect the vendors to drop the price until they have cleared their inventory. They have to continue to sell to reflect the higher price which they paid for the goods in stock. If they are distributors they still have a problem. They have to first reconcile the price at which the stock was assessed. Only a fool would accept that loss. Mr. Walters I think you should clear the air with full information otherwise the public will continue to be confused.

    • The Facts
      March 7, 2015

      These days very little, if nothing at all makes sense and not even some of the comments on this Website.
      Based on your comment, what if it takes them months to do so? How could it be proven that what they sell is old stock? Some people are not honest. They are only concerned about the profit they will make.
      Do you expect the government to request this assessment? If this were done, would the government receive an accurate report?
      Consider how much consumers paid previously. I would think the price was inflated. Therefore, the vendors would not lose.

    • Thor
      March 8, 2015

      You have no business sense. They could sell based on the replacement cost. When the prices go up they get yo less the lower cist item at a higher price.

  8. De country nice
    March 6, 2015

    De country nice

  9. GRAND BAY!
    March 6, 2015

    I CHANGE my mind i giving her 27.50 we spoiling them too much thats y they think thye can raise the prices willy nilly

  10. grell
    March 6, 2015

    Walter Dominica is a lawless and failing island,if the government clamp down on these retailers it would stop a long time ago,but when you have a corrupt government the people are free to do as they please.

    • The Facts
      March 7, 2015

      I totally disagree with you and your derogatory remarks against the government. You should be arrested and charged. If it were a different government and it were a dictatorship one as you disrespectfully and rudely accuse this government of, you would already have been arrested and imprisoned, if not more. You would also take DNO down with you because DNO allows your type of consistent debasing comments against the government.
      Be thankful you have this government that your words are not clamped down and those who sell the oil over the limit and disregard the selling price the government stipulated, they would immediately be charged.

  11. /////
    March 6, 2015

    And another thing, the bus drivers should not overcharge passengers, as the price went down for them too, the prices should be the same, as they were before.

    • The Facts
      March 8, 2015

      You should inform the government about it. Hope one day D/ca will have a permanent national transit bus system controlled by the gov’t., even though the cost could be increased annually as is done in progressive countries. I foresee, in the future, the number of passengers will increase in Dominica.
      On March 1st, Toronto’s transit fare increased. One of the election promises of one of the mayoral candidates who won was not to increase transit fare. Nevertheless, the public have a say in this; most times anyway. They want additional subways and so they must pay for it.
      All the same if D/ca had a national transit, I do think they would be better off. I realize this is a controversial subject but as discussions would be held, pro and con, in time, the government would implement it. Pray for this that one day D/ca will have such a system and passengers will not be overcharged and also respected when they travel on those buses.
      Where there is life there is hope. :)

  12. Bee
    March 6, 2015

    Right in kingshill there the people selling it $28.00 for a 25 pound bottle. That cannot be right. You talk about moral conscience?? The government not moral moral conscience far less for the people. Make an example of one see if the others will not buckle up.

  13. forreal
    March 6, 2015

    and then they are same persons who go about calling the government corrupted,these friggin bloodsuckers

    • The Facts
      March 8, 2015

      You are so correct. The pot always calls the kettle black.

  14. Thor
    March 6, 2015

    Enforce the damn law. That is the problem with Dominica. People know they can break the law without consequences.

  15. GRAND BAY!
    March 6, 2015

    THANK U mr walter i going to buy my gas later and i putn 28$ ond counter for dt shop keeper i evengivn her extra its 27.43 in gbay but she can hold d rest

    • GRAND BAY!
      March 6, 2015

      you kno what i have a cash tin i know theres 0.43 cents in there no more freebies 27.43 for her i fedup the lady selling the gas 35$ and its 27.43 awa :twisted:

    • The Facts
      March 8, 2015

      Bring a list of the cost and show it to the vendor in case he/she pretends, “I did not know about it.. :lol: :lol: :lol:

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