July 9, 2024
Jamaica — Prime Minister Andrew Holness is advising Jamaicans to report any price gouging that occurs in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl, which passed over Jamaica’s south coast on July 3 and caused havoc in several parishes.
“We (the government) are closely monitoring market activities to ensure that unscrupulous individuals do not exploit this disaster for financial gain. People should be able to access essential supplies at fair prices,” Minister Holness said in a ministerial statement in the House of Representatives on Tuesday.
“We urge the public to report any instances of unfair price gouging — prices increasing beyond what they paid for the same products or services before the hurricane,” he added.
The Prime Minister said individuals could report directly to the Consumer Commission or the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment.
He said the administration “was concerned about preventing price gouging. We issued orders under trade law (before the hurricane) to prevent price gouging of essential goods.”
