The meeting with Economic Affairs and Tourism Minister Franklin Meyers was requested by the National Alliance (NA). It was adjourned until Thursday at 10:00am to give Meyers time to research answers to the questions posed by MPs.
NA leader MP William Marlin said businesses had refurbished items in "nice packages" that looked as though they came directly from the manufacturers, and shoppers ? residents and visitors ? were duped into thinking these were "brand new." He called on government to find a way to curb this practice before further damage is done to the country's standing as a trustworthy duty-free shopping destination.
Similarly, supermarkets are offering pre-packaged fruits, vegetables and other food items that leave shoppers no option but to take a package. Marlin said often a significant portion of the items was "not good for consumption, but you pay top dollar for it."
He sees pre-packaging as a way for supermarkets to cut their losses when it comes to spoilage. For example, tomatoes are displayed in the package with the good side showing and put in the freezer section so they appear firm, and the shopper only realises the situation when the produce thaws out.
Marlin queried how packages of sliced cheese that appeared to have different contents still cost the same. He suggested that possibly supermarkets were just printing a number of the same labels and putting them randomly on the products.
The NA leader, like other MPs of his party, called for government to carry out better and more regular controls, because people are put at a disadvantage when supermarkets are shut down for infractions.
Dealing with the importation of bottled water, Marlin asked whether any checks were carried out, especially in light of new understanding that plastic exposed to heat and light poses dangers to health. He pointed out that water from all over the world is imported to St. Maarten and queried whether the ordinance on the checking of water quality was being applied.
Gas stations that are charging different exchange rates for the US dollar were another issue of concern to MPs. MP Louie Laveist (NA) wants government to explain what can be done to regulate this "gross violation" of consumer rights that "has been going on forever."
MP George Pantophlet (NA), who has been adamant about government ensuring scales and other weights and measures are properly calibrated and gas bottles are properly checked, reiterated his calls.
MP Dr. Lloyd Richardson (NA) asked what role Cura�ao still played in St. Maarten's weights and measures controls and what was in place to check cooking gas cylinders.
Independent MP Frans Richardson enquired whether government had a consumer protection policy and whether the ministry had developed a policy on fair competition for the market. He recalled that numerous complaints received from visiting shoppers had flooded the Tourist Bureau.
Commenting on the shopping promotion planned with regional airline LIAT, Frans Richardson said curbing complaints was paramount to preserving the country's status as a shopping Mecca. He also enquired about the number of businesses that had requested business licences and the number of businesses that had closed.
United People's (UP) party MP Silvia Meyers-Olivacce asked how often the 102 supermarkets were checked by the ministry, while MP Jules James (UP) enquired about the establishment of a "better business bureau."
MP Johan "Janchi" Leonard (UP) pressed the need for better price control and MP Hyacinth Richardson (NA) requested better monitoring of baby food prices and expiration dates.
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