Consumers complain that the cost of basic items is 'rising daily'.

Last week Grenada Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell called for a special summit to address the problem.

But St Lucia Prime Minister Stephenson King said his administration was not prepared to await a regional solution.

He announced that the government would intervene place a cap on certain food items.

That's following an example set by Barbados.

St Lucia's National Consumer Association President Hubert James told BBC Caribbean they would be investigating how retailers were pricing their goods.

"We do not understand if you have a shipment of a particular good and you still have it in stock, then why would the price change?"

The Bajan way

Barbados Prime Minister Owen Arthur has told Barbadians to take greater personal responsibility and do more for themselves to minimise the impact of rising food prices.

Prime Minister Arthur also urged Barbadians to return to "old time values", like getting together with neighbours and growing more of the food that they eat.

Mr Arthur said he practices what he preaches as he has his own vegetable plot.

	Prime Minister Arthur says he grows his own vegetables

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.

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.

Residential electricity costs are also to be subsidized to give an average 12 per cent reduction in homeowners' electricity bills.

The St Kitts/Nevis solution

Earlier this month St Kitts Nevis signed a Price Control Order aimed at limiting prices in a typical 'basket of goods'.

St Kitts Nevis Permanent Secretary for Industry Ambassador Rosalyn Hazelle told BBC Caribbean the government is working closely with retailers to protect consumers from the excessive cost of living.

The government has taken some of the items off the Price Control List and reduced some import taxes.

Ambassador Hazelle said while its understandable that business people would be concerned about their 'bottom line', the government has to be concerned about the plight of the people.