Basic Commodities : Controversy Surrounds Homologated Prices

Owners of supermarkets are applying the new prices but the reverse is true with retailers. Government??s decision to step up the standards of living of citizens by reducing the prices of some basic commodities appears to be everything but successful. While supermarkets are effectively applying the homologated prices, which range from 8 to 20 per cent, retailers in

the market are still reticent. The latter complain that their suppliers are doing nothing in that direction and so it would be difficult for them to act. A visit to some shops at the central market yesterday revealed this reticence. Not only were officials unwilling to talk to us, but some openly said they were not in the know that prices of some basic commodities were to reduce. ??Go and see our suppliers because those are the people who deal with the government and not us??, one of the retailers said. However, the situation at supermarkets is different. At MAHIMA supermarket for example, a new price list is visible. Officials have placed on almost every counter an inscription reading thus, ??Semestre du discount 2009, en collaboration avec le MINCOMMERCE, baisse generalisee des prix??. There, each commodity has an old price (cancelled) and a new one pasted on it. For example, 5 kilograms Diya rice that formerly sold at FCFA 4,250 now sells at FCFA 3,950, 1,125 for a litre of Mayor cooking oil down from 1,250, 325 for sardine in place of 350 among others. The same applies for Casino supermarket where the director, Boissino, said he could not but obey government??s instructions to make life better for the population. There, a poster is placed with an inscription, ??Contre la vie chère, Casino au association avec le ministère du Commerce??. Here, Barilla Spaghetti that sold at FCFA 1,790 now sells at FCFA 1,350 while Aurea cooking oil has had an 9.1 per cent drop from FCFA 2,190 to 1,990, among others. ??The prices here are affordable but I think government should further reduce them so that most, if not all, should be able to buy??, a housewife, Ntsama Olive, said. Like in MAHIMA, the Sales manager at Casino, Beyeme Beyeme Marshall Jrs., said the only speed brake they are having is with their suppliers who have not done anything yet. He advocated that government should do all to get suppliers involved in the operation. The Chief of the National Brigade for Price Control and Repression of Fraud in the Ministry of Trade, Jean-Marie Nemi Nkolo said they constantly have a team of price controllers on the markets who are ensuring that the price, quality and quantity of goods served citizens are up to standards. He said nothing will be left to chance to bring to book unscrupulous business people who want to feed fat on the population. He called on the population to either call the national brigade for price control or the various regional delegations in case they are asked to pay more than the homologated prices.
Godlove BAINKONG, CT

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