V.I. merchants must submit price lists for essential hurricane-related commodities to the Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs, the agency is reminding businesses.
Part of the DLCA mandate is protecting the public from deceptive trade practices, such as price gouging during a declared state of emergency and/or natural disaster.
During a natural disaster, the V.I.governor may , through DLCA, freeze prices on goods including: food items, water, beverages, health and medical care products, fuel, rents, construction goods and services, clothing, furnishings and other goods deemed appropriate under the circumstances presented.
All potentially affected merchants are mandated to supply DLCA with official inventory or price lists of essential goods and merchandise in stock during Hurricane Season, which runs June 1 through November 30. DLCA is to provide documentation with further details on definitions and specific examples of essential commodities. Price lists are due the first day of every month during Hurricane Season. After the first submission, if no price change has occurred, merchants must submit a letter of certification each month specifying that the prior month’s list is valid and without change. If price changes have been made, merchants must submit the updated price changes. All lists should clearly reflect the specific price changes from month to month.
Businesses may pick up samples of the appropriate price list as well as detailed documentation on definitions and specific examples of essential commodities from DLCA offices; in St. Croix at no. 3000 Golden Rock Shopping Center Suite 9, in St. Thomas at no. 8201 Sub Base, Suite #1 Property & Procurement Building and in St. John at the Administrator’s Office Building. DLCA will accept hand delivery or a digital copy of price lists, via email or on a USB Flash drive. Electronic submissions can be emailed to info@dlca.vi.gov.
Consumers or Merchants with questions can email info@dlca.vi.gov or call a district near you. For the St. Croix Office call 713-DLCA (3522) or for the St. Thomas Office call 714-DLCA (3522).
