Independent MP Terry Lister has called for the creation of a price control board to limit the increasing cost of essential foods.

Mr Lister said that while the recently announced weekly ten percent discount at several of the Island’s supermarkets had received praise, he was displeased by the proposal.

“The people are struggling with many afflictions at this point,” he said. “The rise of food costs is one of these afflictions. We need a means to control these rises.

“I have opposed wage and price controls since witnessing the failure of such measures in Canada in the early 1970s — I don’t believe a full blown wage and price control regime has any chance of success in an economy like ours where most of our goods are imported — however a limited form can be quite helpful for all of us.”

He suggested that rather than a ten percent discount, the Government create a price control board, which would be tasked to determine a “basket” of essential food items.

“Once this basket has been determined, there should be an agreement reached with all food merchants fixing the price of all such products for a period such as three months,” he said. “The price would be fixed for the item in every outlet in Bermuda. Consumers would know what the price of the item is going to be for the next three months.

“As the quarter end approaches the price control board and the food merchants would meet to negotiate the prices for the next quarter. To me this would be far more beneficial to consumers than a Wednesday ten percent off. I am strongly recommending that Government set up the Board and empower them to get this measure in place as soon as possible.”

Speaking in the House of Assembly on Friday, the MP also expressed concern that because the ten percent discount is only available if the shopper makes the purchase in cash, those who are on financial assistance and receive food cards won’t get to take advantage.

Public Safety Minister Michael Dunkley later said that those who use the food vouchers will be eligible for the discount.

He also defended the initiative from attacks, saying that while the previous administration carried out a report on food prices, nothing was ever actually done about the costs.

The Minister thanked the stores for their assistance with the initiative, saying: “When the retailers came to the table, it wasn’t a question of if, it was how we were going to do it.”