Government fails to cap essential goods prices, opposition comes to rescue

COVID-19 pandemic has interrupted the supplies of essential goods and services all across the world. Taking advantage of the circumstances, retailers have commenced raising the prices of products.

Similarly, in St Kitts and Nevis, consumers are accusing Prime Minister Dr Timothy Harris of not taking steps to prevent the shopkeepers from doubling the prices of daily need items.

In the recent price hike, stores are selling Carnation Milk at $3.50 while earlier it was only $2.99. Likewise, $24 noodle pack is now priced as much as $34. As most of the businesses are already shut, even simple grocery items have become luxurious, and people are unable to afford three meals a day.

However, the government of St Kitts and Nevis has not yet issued any list indicating the prices of the essential products or capped the maximum retail price and rates are varying. In countries like India, France and even the United Kingdom, the governments are taking stringent actions to stop people from overpricing the merchandises, and routinely lists are being issued announcing the government estimates of the goods. No individual can raise the prices on their own.

While in St Kitts and Nevis, the situation is otherwise. The government has announced a $120 million economic stimulus package which states removal of “Import duties & Customs service charges” for 6 months on vegetables, fruits, fruit juices, cough and cold preparations and vitamins. Surprisingly, where government assured reduction in commodities the prices are skyrocketing.

Moreover, people are longing for their $1000 assistance under the same package. The country's tourism is profoundly impacted due to Coronavirus, and hundreds of workers are laid off from their jobs, making their survival unaccommodating.

On the contrary, the opposition party, St Kitts and Nevis Labour Party has taken the initiative to provide free food packages to elder, single mothers, disable and other impacted by COVID-19 of the Federation. On Saturday, around one thousand food packages were distributed in St Kitts by SKNLP. These packages included all variety of primary goods for the household including Vienna sausages, tuna, rice, macaroni and cheese, flour, oats, milk, Ovaltine, tea bags, sugar, mix drinks, bleach, soap, masks and many other everyday products to provide significant assistance to the public.

As per the opposition party, the initiative is to provide one thousand care packages, and they have applied for a permission to the Police commissioner to make distributions during the curfew because the nation is under lockdown until Thursday, and a large number of people are incapable of affording food supplies for such a long time.

The government's incapability of taking prompt action during the time of crisis has raised hundreds of questions on the entire administration of the country.