Price gouging pushing up cost of living in Tobago

London was responding to complaints from members of the business community who had taken issue with statements in his New Year’s message, in which he had accused Tobago businessmen of "price gouging."

London had alleged that some businessmen were applying steep increases on their goods and therefore contributing to the disparity in the cost of living between Tobago and Trinidad. However, several businessmen were up in arms against these claims, and in turn accused London of inciting people to turn against them.

But London stuck to his guns at last Thursday’s post-Executive Council meeting press briefing. He asserted that the question of high mark-ups by businessmen in Tobago was an "open secret." "Let me just state categorically, that I am happy that the issue has generated that level of discussion, and maybe some level of disagreement," said London.

"But I want to make it very clear. There is nothing that I said in that address that is earth-shaking or unknown to the people of Tobago; there is no new information," he declared. "The fact is that there is a disparity in the cost of living between Tobago and Trinidad — that’s one; there are a number of factors that are responsible for that — that’s two; one of these factors is that some business entities do in fact engage in mark-ups which I consider and the public considers unreasonable."

He added, "These are the facts. Tobago knows it, and I think even the business community recognises it," London said. The THA Chief Secretary stressed the Assembly would continue to provide an environment in which business people can conduct their business at "most reasonable" cost.

The Assembly, he said, had a responsibility to do two things: provide an enhanced environment so that the goods could be cheaper and ensure that there is a process whereby the people of Tobago can in fact be informed so that they can make the choices.