By Damion
Mitchell, Staff Reporter
Surridge calls excuses given by retailers
'mystifying'. - Damion Mitchel Photo
MIKE SURRIDGE, head of the Financial Investigation Division,
yesterday slapped down explanation by retailers that their prices
for imported agricultural produce reflected the purchase price
from suppliers.
He said, in fact, they could be receiving the produce at cheaper
prices as many supermarket operators were buying from illegal
importers.
"Respectable businesses have been purchasing goods which they
must have known were uncustomed," the revenue official told The
Gleaner yesterday.
Reacting to Tuesday's disclosure of a Consumer Affairs Commission
(CAC) Survey revealing that 13 retail supermarkets were significantly
gouging prices on four imported vegetables since Hurricane Ivan,
Mr. Surridge said there have been 'mystifying' excuses by retail
outlets that in some instances they purchase imported produce
from third party agents.
Following the hurricane, Government had offered a waiver on import
duties from 260 per cent to 40 per cent on some agricultural produce
but only 12 importers had applied for import permits, Mr. Surridge
reported.
According to him, some importers were found to be 'under-describing'
and 'under-invoicing' their produce in order to reap more profits
when their cargo is sold locally.
ABSOLUTE RUBBISH
Yesterday Wayne Chen, chief executive officer of Super Plus Food
Stores, which the CAC survey identified as gouging prices, described
as "absolute rubbish" statements by Mr. Surridge that supermarkets
were knowingly purchasing produce from illegal importers.
"We can show him that we buy from reputable persons," Mr. Chen
said, noting that his supermarket chain obtained the majority
of imported produce from two large suppliers.
Cameron Bisland, managing director of the HiLo food stores, also
said he was prepared to submit his invoices. "I have them ready,"
he declared.
One retailer told The Gleaner on Wednesday that at least
one supplier had complained about an extended process in obtaining
the 40 per cent and so he opted to import produce without applying
for the waiver.
Pressed whether Customs was ineffective to allow illegal importers
to exploit the system, Mr. Surridge said, "If Customs were to
check every thing, they would actually start to destroy the business
community. What we rely on in Customs is absolute co-operation
between the businesses and between Customs."
