The Bureau of Standards warns against price gouging

Tonight, the Belize Bureau of Standards (BBS) is warning the business community about price gouging. The BBS states that in light of Tropical Storm Lisa it is advising consumers to be vigilant as it relates to the prices of goods and services during this time. The BBS, which is responsible for regulating the prices of controlled goods, says consumers are reminded of the importance of saving receipt(s) as proof of purchase which can serve as a basis to formally report any contraventions encountered in the marketplace. Today, Minister of Disaster Risk Management, Orlando Habet also spoke out against the practice and reminded business owners that it is against the law to raise the prices of controlled goods. 

Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management: “It’s something that has happened before and on other occasions I think we have heard the Minister of Agriculture Honorable Jose Mai speaking about that and we certainly implore these businesses to really not do that because it affects largely the poorer people who really can’t afford it and so there are certain items that we know are controlled so you can’t increase the prices on those but there are other items that will be absolutely necessary for these people to take to their shelters or to move from one place to the other or even if you want to stay at home and you start to stock up on water and some food then sometimes this issue with price gouging occurs and certainly I can say for sure that Cabinet, the Government of Belize discourages this type of activity.”

A listing of the current price-controlled goods can be found on BBS’S website and reports can be made through the BBS Consumer Protection Hotline at 0-800-283-5587 or via email at bbs@btl.net