 You may have heard the Honourable Minister with Responsibility for Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Emma Hippolit informed the nation that the government has approved the suspension of the 6% service charge on imported price control goods as a short-term measure to cushion or ease the squeeze on consumers as a result of the rising prices of goods and services. I take this opportunity to explain further how the measure will work. The Ministry, through the Consumer Affairs Department, is responsible for monitoring the importation, prices and sale of a group of goods that the government considers necessary for the daily sustenance of the average consumer and to assist in the development of key sectors. These goods are called price control goods, which includes oil, milk, tuna fish, salted biscuits, sardines, baby foods, cement. They are controlled either by a specific wholesale and retail markup or by a fixed price. The measure applies to all goods controlled by a specific markup, for example milk, powdered and evaporated, attract markups of 7.5% and 10% on wholesale and retail respectively. The prices of all price control goods are approved by the Consumer Affairs Department. Therefore, the prices of those goods at the supermarkets, small shops or any retail wholesale outlet should not exceed the prices approved by the Department. The short-term measure announced by Honorable Minister Hippolyte will apply to goods imported from June 1st to August 31st, 2022. Those already imported and either in warehouses or on the shelves of retailers have been priced using the 6% service charge. These prices will remain until goods are exhausted. The price changes are expected for goods being imported from June 1st. There will be no application of the service charge by the Customs and Excise Department. If the landed costs of the imported goods remain the same, given that the service charge will not be applied and the markup is fixed, then the price to the consumer will be lower. There are 13 items that are currently under price control for a specific size. For example corned beef, only the 7 ounce was controlled and not the larger size. June 1st, 2022, the importation of all sizes of goods under the price control order will now be subject to price control. However, a further review of the sizes of these goods is being done and an update will be provided in due course. I urge all importers and consumers to contact the Consumer Affairs Department at 468-4224 or 468-4226 if there are any queries or concerns. Thank you.