3 Businesses Ticketed for Price Gouging

A storm is approaching the Yucatan Peninsula and Belizeans are heeding the advice of the National Emergency Management Organization by stocking up on food and emergency supplies. It is the job of the Supplies Control Unit under the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise to ensure that businesses do not engage in price gouging practices. Over the past two days, nine businesses were issued tickets for violations of the regulations in the Cayo and Belize districts, including Eric’s Supermarket in the West Landivar area, which was found to be price gouging. These violations include failing to display the prices of controlled goods and selling a controlled good for above the controlled price. In a statement released today, the Supplies Control Unit assured the public that that it will continue inspection activities and will engage local authorities to identify and address violations and reminds business owners that the controlled price for sixteen-ounce sliced bread is two dollars and ten cents and not two dollars and twenty-five cents. The public is advised to report suspected violations to the unit.