Local government — St. Thomas
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DLCA Lifts Price Freeze and Restricted Sale Order
The Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs (DLCA)is notifying all consumers, merchants, and businesses that the price freeze and restricted sale order issued on Wednesday, Aug. 22, is hereby lifted. The price freeze was put into effect as a result of the territory being under immediate threat of Tropical Storm Issac. Tropical storm warnings have been lifted for the territory. Showers and thundershowers will continue to affect the Virgin Islands today, but are expected to become less frequent tonight. As a result, it has been determined that the threat of imminent damage is no longer evident, according to a press release issued on Friday by DLCA.
Although the price freeze has been lifted, the department will keep a vigilant watch for any signs of drastic price increases on hurricane goods which do not correlate with prices on record for the respective businesses. Business owners are warned to avoid taking advantage of residents by increasing prices during the current hurricane season. Merchants who engage in price gouging for their own advantageous benefit will face substantial penalties. All businesses are urged to comply with future orders issued by the DLCA to avoid being assessed penalties for acts of price gouging.
Various businesses are also reminded that they must continue to submit an updated hurricane price list on the first of each month until Nov. 30. Every year, at the onset of hurricane season, businesses are required to furnish monthly official price lists of goods and merchandise in stock, and for the services they offer to the public.
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