Pryce
RAYMOND PRYCE, who resigned on Thursday as director of research and information at the Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC), is leaving the door open on his future with the beleaguered government agency once investigations into the methodology behind its allegations of price-gouging by retailers are complete.
Mr. Pryce's resignation becomes effective on December 31. But yesterday, he expressed confidence that following the probe there will be closure to the matter which has embarrassed the CAC and Commerce Minister Phillip Paulwell.
"The Minister has requested a full report and I'm confident that between now and then (December 31) things will be fully resolved," Mr. Pryce told The Sunday Gleaner.
Mr. Pryce would not say if he would return to the post he was appointed to in July 2003, if he is vindicated by the investigations.
Regarded as a beacon in the Patriots, an affiliate of the governing People's National Party, Mr. Pryce says he has not been overwhelmed by the uproar over the flawed CAC report.
He said, however, that "It's difficult to gauge (my feelings) right now."
CLAIMS OF PRICE-GOUGING
Mr. Paulwell, acting on information from the CAC, accused several leading supermarkets including Super Plus and Hi Lo, of topping prices on some items in the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan which struck in September. The CAC based its report on findings by field workers who visited over 50 retail stores across the country to investigate claims of price-gouging.
According to the CAC survey, there was a 500 per cent increase on some vegetables, which were hard to get after farms in the country's central region were devastated by Ivan. These included cabbage, carrots, lettuce and tomatoes. Last week, Mr. Paulwell backtracked on the CAC accusations and apologised to retailers.
