South business group calls for food subsidies

WITH rumours abounding that the price of chicken was once again set to increase, San Fernando Business Association (SBA) president Daphne Bartlett is urging consumers to exercise their own price controls by refusing to purchase the “overly-inflated product,” until a measure of stability returned to the market. In an interview yesterday, the outspoken businesswoman also outlined a partial wish-list for Budget 2004/2005, saying Government should subsidise a number of vital, basic food staples including rice, oil, flour and sugar. She said a five percent reduction in Value Added Tax (VAT) would also be a welcome relief for both merchants and consumers, while gasoline prices should once again receive significant subsidies to keep both transportation and other costs at manageable levels. “With the Budget presentation carded for September, we in the SBA are of the opinion that given the present revenues being generated in the energy sector, the VAT regime should be reduced from 15 percent to ten percent,” Bartlett said.

Bartlett added her association was saying Government should also provide subsidies for vital basic food staples such as sugar, flour, oil and rice. Regarding reports of a proposed increase in the price of chicken, Bartlett said consumers possessed the “power of control over escalating prices. “If the price of any commodity goes up, we as consumers, can refuse to buy that commodity,” she said, adding “we have the power in our pocket and it is time we as consumers exercised that power.” However, Penal/Debe Chamber president Leo Doodnath said while price increases may be inevitable due to fluctuations in world prices, local prices must also be equivalent with any worldwide percentage increase. “If prices are comparable to world price increases — if it is on par — then we should not complain, but if it is above, then something is definitely wrong and Government would have to become involved,” Doodnath added.