PM Skerrit decries price gouging after Hurricane Maria

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, has condemned those who have raised the price of items in Dominica in the wake of Hurricane Maria.

Speaking at the daily government press briefing on Monday, he described the practice as unfair.

There have been reports that prices of items are being raised on the island by those who wanted to cash in on the disaster.

“It is really unfair people are now increasing the prices in a dramatic way,” he stated. “Where are our consciences?”

Skerrit said the matter cannot be blamed on VAT since presently there is no VAT on items.

“There is no VAT,” he stated. “People used to say the reason prices are high is because of VAT. No VAT, there is no import duty.”

He also stated that he doesn’t like the idea of people saying that the prices of items went up because they were in stock before the hurricane.

“I don’t like the idea of I had that in stock before Hurricane Maria,” he noted. “All of this stuff are going to get mixed up with each other and when they get mixed up with each other, when you look at the average price you will still make a big profit. You can’t tell people you had this stuff before Hurricane Maria and jack up the prices.”

The Prime Minister had a challenge for the private sector who, he stated, likes to talk about transparency.

“The private sector likes to talk about transparency, transparency is the biggest word in the world out there today,” he remarked. “What I am challenging the private sector to do, all of you with hardware and foodstuff and so on, give me two prices, show me two prices, show me the pre-Hurricane Maria price and show me the post-Hurricane Maria price. That is what transparency is about. Transparency doesn’t only reside with the government.”

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11 Comments

  1. Shameless
    November 1, 2017

    And here he goes again talking none sense . Man show leadership and have the laws enforced so those taking advantage can be prosecuted. Go tell that to the business man and his cohorts who are demanding g Carbon and Valerie go. While he is right in demanding that they go for allowing people to loot his place, he now charging hoe-toe-toe money for basic goods. Can you call him out sir? Please do so we all can know who some of the culprits are

    Assertive like Mrs Maria!

  2. Bee
    November 1, 2017

    Great point Skerro in issuing a challenge to the private sector to be transparent. Now will you please lead by example and provide us with some of that transparency we have been begging for from the last few years?

  3. viewsexpressed
    November 1, 2017

    Skerrit is a big joke eh….read this: ““It is really unfair people are now increasing the prices in a dramatic way,” he stated. “Where are our consciences?”
    Skerrit must know by now that Satan cannot forgive sins. Skerrit as PM, clean your back yard and your office first before you attempt to tell people how to conduct themselves openly and “honestly”. You are in a position to practice Transparency and until you act accordingly you are in no position to lecture or counsel us or business people about “Transparency”.
    We have been asking to be transparent on matter of state and yo have ignored us. For example, The transaction pertaining to the Bin Bobol, Fertilizer Bobol, the CBI Passports schemes scams etc. Where are you to be transparent? Clan your political backyards first sir. We don’t trust you with our State`s funds

  4. Me
    November 1, 2017

    The laws of supply and demand creating a black market for profiteers. I thought Mr. Skerrit was in charge?

  5. Silver fox
    November 1, 2017

    Looking, whatare you on about get your self together and get to the point please? Just like the rest of Workers supporters none of you haters make any sense all please settle down and make sure you know what you on about.

    • viewsexpressed
      November 2, 2017

      Mr Silver Fox. you are not making any sense, please come again, wake up from Skerrit’s corrupt gang surroundings and be free ….wake up …Now talk to us of some decency.
      You cannot compare a corrupt labour government to that of the decency of a thriving intellectual UWP Team Dominica.
      Skerrit must Go..
      Corrupt Labour Governmentt must Go

  6. Daily Lies
    November 1, 2017

    So PM will you increase or decrease the price of your diplomatic passports because of Maria? I know Antigua decided to decrease theirs since Maria so they could get money to rebuild Barbuda because according to PM Gaston Brown, who is your very close friend said that Dominica is making sixty million dollars a month on passports at your price of $100K per passport while Antigua could only make six million a month, though theirs was twice higher than ours in Dominica, because people bought our because of our cheaper price. PM you never gave us that break down boy. We making 60 million dollars a month on passports? So Pm are we going to keep selling passports for $100K per passport or you going to lower it?

  7. I am Positive, are you?
    November 1, 2017

    I find the PM is very negative on price gouging after Maria. In fact to be blunt about it PM’s statement just confirmed that Dominica has NO leadership though there is a 17 men / women cabinet. PM, Erika did some damage in 2015 and up to the day before Maria you and your government blames the failure of your government on Erika. Maria came and I guess to deliver Erika from your blame game and will subsequently be take the blame for the next 25 years, if you are still in office. So if you can blame hurricane for your failure, don’t you expect people to blame Maria to raise prices. Secondly PM people are in business to make money and most of these people merchants had their stuff looted because again you and your police heads failed to protect them. Maybe some didn’t even have insurance or maybe not covered for looting; so you know they going to make us pay for that. Another thing is, even in the bible 2 kings 6 we see a price increase because of famine. Da has more than famine now ok

  8. Ibo France
    November 1, 2017

    The PM is right. Those business people who indulge in price gouging deserve the collect scorn and wrath of the populace. This action is unconscionable and shows a lack of empathy for the indigent and the injured. Avarice, selfishness, depravity and immorality are much too prevalent in the way we conduct our daily lives. When the affluent, of a severely battered country, tries to get richer at the expense of a suffering and devastated people then this becomes the epitome of wickedness.

  9. Looking
    November 1, 2017

    I agree Honorable PM. But what i have observed about you, you are good at telling people what they want to hear. Thus one of your secrets of charisma. You travel to London you tell them what they want to hear, you in Timbuktu you will tell them what they want to hear. Even if its far from the truth or the reality on the ground.

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