Determined to leave no stone unturned in their quest to ensure that all Long Islanders receive fresh, quality food and gasoline products at the right price, Price Inspectors and Metrologists led by the Chairman of the Prices Commission, Ms. Synida Dorsett travelled to Long Island and personally inspected every grocery store and gasoline service station from Wednesday, 16 May to Friday, 18 May, 2018.
Ms. Dorsett was accompanied by Mr. Huel Robins, Commissioner of the Prices Commission and Vice Chairman of The Bahamas Bureau of Standards and Quality; Mr. Jason Johnson, Price Inspector at the Consumer Welfare Unit; Mr. Deron Strachan, Metrologist and Inspector at The Bahamas Bureau of Standards and Quality; Ms. Arielle Braynen, Metrologist with The Bahamas Bureau of Standards and Quality and Ms. Anastasia Stubbs with the Ministry of Labour.
The Prices Commission, Consumer Welfare Unit and The Bahamas Bureau of Standards and Quality all fall under the Ministry of Labour where the Minister is Senator the Honourable Dion A. Foulkes.
“We are pleased with our visit to Long Island and we plan to visit the other Family Islands and conduct the same exercise we did here in Long Island. Also we want to bring awareness to our Family Islands as to the role of The Bureau of Standards and Quality. It goes back to consumer education and we are going to embark upon letting the consumers know exactly what their rights are as it relates to the cost of food items that are regulated by the Government, that is Bread Basket items,” said Ms. Dorsett.
Scores of Long Island business owners such as Mr. Basil Fox who has been in the gasoline business for over 50 years were receptive to the visit by the Price Inspectors and Metrologists.
“I think it’s a good thing,” said Mr. Fox of the inspections. He added, “Ain’t everyone (business person) honest.”
Ms. Dorsett was also invited to address Long Islanders at a special town meeting organized by the Member of Parliament for Long Island, Mr. Adrian Gibson and the Minister of Public Works, Mr. Desmond Bannister.
The Prices Commission Chairman disclosed that the next island which her team plans to visit is Exuma.