May 31, 2002 – With hurricane season approaching, the Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs is requesting all merchants to comply with DLCA's requirement to furnish an official price list of all goods and merchandise in stock. The first price list is due June 1, the official beginning of Hurricane Season, and is renewable the first of each month until November 30.
All Virgin Island businesses, especially those whose goods and services are necessary for hurricane preparation and recovery, are required by law to submit the list.
If there are no changes in prices during the five month period, a letter must be submitted each month saying so. If price changes have been made, only those items need be submitted to the department.
"I am hoping to get everyone's cooperation during this period," Andrew Rutnik, DLCA commissioner, said. "The price lists are critical in determining allegations of price gouging and DLCA will go to every extent to ensure that those lists are received."
Failure to cooperate could result in administrative action and/or fines, he said.
Letters were sent in May to all businesses.
"We encourage any businesses that may not have received letters because they are not on our list to contact us immediately," Rutnik told the Source Friday afternoon.
"We've made the process a lot less onerous this time," he said. "We don't need to know the price of artichokes, in other words, just the things like batteries, toilet paper or ice, things that are related to hurricane needs.