Poor paying the most

THE EDITOR: I want to join the issue with Legal and Consumer Affairs Minister, Christine Kangaloo who said that: “Government cannot prevent high food prices.” I want to inform or rather remind her about three reasons which are responsible for high food prices and for which Government is to be blamed. Firstly, the massive yearly flooding the commercial farmer experiences which washes away most if not all his livestock and crops. This will result in a scarcity of produce to the market and groceries resulting in increased prices. secondly, the inability of the Central Bank to stabilise our dollar pegged to the US dollar.

That is to say that if the importer has to pay more for US dollars, he will pass on that cost to the wholesaler, who in turn will pass it on to the retailer who passes it on to the consumer so that the consumers are constrained in one breath to pay three “passed on” or what we say in Economics the “Incidence” tax. And thirdly, the massive port congestion which is responsible for the delay in offloading cargoes. Now! Who pays for the extra day/s the boat/s are delayed or overstayed their/ its journey. The importers of course. Another “passed on” cost to the consumers. The poorest in the society paying the highest prices, Miss Minister.

HARRY P T CHARLIE
Princes Town