There are growing concerns over rising food prices in the Caribbean

Last week, Grenada’s Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell wrote to the CARICOM Chairman requesting a special summit to tackle the escalating cost of food for regional consumers.

Mr. Arthur, the current CARICOM chairman, said the issue is “important and urgent”, but added that it calls for “detailed, serious analysis”.

In this regard, he said it has been impressed upon the CARICOM Secretariat that the matter has to be approached with “substantive research”.

He says there must be clear judgment about what relief can be implemented on a regional scale and what measures must be taken at the domestic level.

“A clear judgment has to be exercised in respect of what can be done regionally and what must be left to the domestic jurisdictions.”

Barbados relief

Meanwhile, Barbadian consumers should expect an almost immediate reduction in their shopping costs following a government announcement that it has added more items to the basket of goods which will benefit from a 20 per cent reduction in retail mark-ups.

A clear judgment has to be exercised ... of what can be done Owen Arthur, Barbados Prime Minister

But the Opposition has described the announcement as "a short-term, opportunistic, political stunt" that is part of the Government's pre-election campaigning.

There had been some criticism that mainly starchy and fatty foods had been identified among the 10 basic food items initially earmarked for reductions.

Now, selected fruits and vegetables and basic personal care products have been added to the list, and residential electricity costs are also to be subsidized, to give an average 12 per cent reduction in householders’ electricity bills.