Local News

On Tuesday of this week we reported on a complaint forwarded to the Bureau of Standards which stated that a gas station on the Northern Highway increase prices of fuel before the prices took effect and over charged a customer, who proved it with a receipt.  This morning the Bureau of Standards issued a press release stating that it has come to the attention of the Supplies control Unit that some merchants and particularly some distributors of price controlled goods such as gasoline, diesel and kerosene have been prescribing to the practice of implementing control price increase adjustments prior to the effective date announced by the Government of Belize.  The release goes on to inform that the act is an offence under the Supplies Control Act Subsidiary Regulation for Price Controlled Goods, carrying with it a penalty of one thousand dollars as well as a charge of two hundred dollars per day for each day an infraction is committed, and or imprisonment for a period of six months.  The SCU can also seize goods with respect to preceding infractions.  The bureau of Standards also appeals to consumers to request receipts, since it is proof of purchase.  Asking for the receipt is the right of the consumer and it is the obligation of the merchant to supply it.