Bahamian authorities have warned that they would “aggressively investigate” any acts of “price gouging”, as the chain of islands prepare for the passage of Hurricane Irma later this week.
An official government statement warned retailers and wholesalers of “essential items, particularly breadbasket food items, medical and prescription drug supplies as well as hurricane preparedness items, such as plywood and nails, that “price gouging” and specifically the “hoarding” of items for “speculation” or “profiteering” as well as the marking-up of prices” in the advent of a potential natural disaster are criminal offences.
The statement said that Prime Minister Dr. Hubert A. Minnis, has instructed the competent authority “to commence a programme of strict supervision, review and monitoring of the prices being charged” and have any violator reported to the Office of the Attorney General “which has, in consultation with the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Royal Bahamas Police Force, committed to aggressively investigate any information” on price gouging with a view to acting with the provisions of the law.
Hurricane Irma, now Category 3 storm, is not expected to begin affecting the Bahamas until the weekend after making its way through the Lesser Antilles during the week.
