The Government of Saint Lucia has decided to completely remove the six percent service charge on all imported price controlled goods.
This move will be done in an effort to guard against the price gouging currently plaguing the nation as a result of worldwide trade limitations. Inflation as gauged by the consumer price index noted a 4.9% increase when prices in February 2022 were compared to that of February 2021.
Commerce Minister Emma Hippolyte noted that the hike in the inflation rate, adversely affected the prices of goods in Saint Lucia.
As a result, the Government has taken a decision to do away with the customs service charge on price controlled goods. Over a hundred goods currently imported to the island are price controlled by percentage mark up.
Effective June 1 st , 2022 certain items will be price controlled irrespective of size, as some goods did possess a size limitation. Eg canned tuna fish, sardines, toothpaste etc.
While the government does not have control over the landed cost of items, Emma notes that the government did its best to cushion the immediate impact of rising costs on the everyday citizen. She notes that this is the first round of measures that the government sought to implement but more initiatives will follow.