Government must do more to limit the high cost of food on the Island, according to Kevin Santucci.

Corporation of Hamilton Chaplain Santucci praised the Government for taking action to help members of the public suffering due to the economic condition by working with supermarkets, but said he doesn’t feel the approach taken will have the desired effect.

“The prices of food has been increasing to the point where ten percent isn’t really a ten percent deduction. It’s really just coming down to the level that things were before, and the stores can now also sell liquor on Sundays.

“People are still suffering at the register to pay for food, and this is not really helping them.

“I think that we should have been looking at things more carefully. I just believe there has to be something better.”

During the Speech from the Throne, Government announced that it had worked with supermarket chains in an effort to find ways to reduce the cost of food for consumers.

As a result of the meetings, Government said MarketPlace, Supermart and Lindo’s will offer ten percent discounts on cash purchases on Wednesdays.

They also announced that it would amend legislation to allow businesses to sell alcohol on Sundays.

Responding to the announcements, Chaplain Santucci said: “I think things could have been done better with the Government and the companies, being that people are going without.

“I think the ten percent discount is good, and I thank God for that, but a compromise has been made.

“The stores are giving that ten percent, but they are getting to sell the alcohol on Sundays. They really aren’t giving all that much.”

He said there are some stores on the Island that consider the needs of the people by controlling their prices and offering specials, but that more must be done to lower food costs across the Island.

“All parties involved, the Government, the stores and the importers, need to get together around the table and start thinking about how they can help the public who are struggling,” he said. “We need to find ways to help.”

Chaplain Santucci, an avid gardener, said one method to reduce foods cost would be for more members of the public to grow their own produce.

“We have become an affluent society where we can bring in our meat and bring in our produce, but we need to become more self sufficient,” he said. “If more people grow their own produce, and help their neighbours, the demand for produce at the stores will drop.

“If the demand for produce falls, then the price will also fall.

“Government cannot legislate people to do something, but Government can encourage it.”

Chaplain Santucci added that while the Throne Speech did include initiatives to help those who are struggling, he was disappointed it didn’t touch on elements to help the Island’s homeless population.

“I know Government is working on a plan to address homelessness, but I hoped that something would have been said on that during the speech,” he said.

This week, Chaplain Santucci will be joined by guest speakers in a series of talks titled ‘It’s a Community Affair’ at the Southampton Seventh-day Adventist Church.

The series will take place every day this week except Thursday, with the events starting at 7pm.