Berbice Chamber defends inflated prices of goods

…as costs for goods and services skyrocket

In light of the increase in prices of goods on the shelves of supermarkets in Berbice, the Berbice Chamber of Commerce and Development Association (BCCDA) has defended its members, claiming that the prices were jacked up after the distributors in Georgetown increased theirs.
“This is one of the things which has sent up prices for goods across Berbice,” said Vice President of the Chamber, Ryan Alexander.
He was at the time responding to questions from the Berbice media on the Chamber’s seeming silence as its members offer goods and services at increased prices. Prices at some outlets have tripled in some cases over the past two months.
At some supermarkets, the price displayed on the shelves is significantly different from the cost in the cash registers.
Alexander said the Chamber is looking at alternative measures to stabilise prices on the shelf so that products can still be affordable to the average person.
He added too that the Chamber has written the caretaker Government on the issue. “We are hoping that the Government responds positively,” he explained.
According to Alexander, the Chamber is not in support of persons raising their prices unnecessarily or just to garner a larger profit, especially at this time.
“This is a dangerous time for all citizens of Guyana and Berbice is no exception. We would have been informed that merchandisers from Berbice and persons who buy products from Berbice would have said to us that when they go to replenish their stock from suppliers, the stock would have doubled and tripled and this is the reason why they would have had an increase in prices. If that is so then I am calling on suppliers to not inflate prices if it is stock that was here before.”
However, with Government closing all ports, ocean-going vessels have not been able to dock, thus making it difficult not only on the small companies but also the main distributors.
In fact, some commodities are being smuggled in from Suriname and according to officials in the Dutch-speaking country, goods being shipped to Guyana is shortening supplies there, thus carrying up the price for acquisition.
Alexander called on suppliers to understand the humanitarian services that are required at this point in time.
“The world is suffering and we know that there would be shore supplies of stocks so we are asking that persons show heart so that persons would not go on the starvation line,” the Chamber official appealed.