Despite the warning from the Ministry of Commerce to all traders operating on national territory, that they are strictly forbidden to take advantage of the situation of "panic" caused by the epidemic of Covid-19 in the country, and practice illegal speculation, that is to say called "black market", several infringing traders have defied this ban.

A practice which has serious consequences for the poorest families who find themselves deprived of the products essential to their subsistence due to the unjustified and abusive rise in the price of basic necessities.

The Ministry reminds all traders that the legal provisions provide for a prison sentence of between 1 and 5 years and a fine of 100,000 to 500,000 Gourdes (Art. 2 of the law on illegal speculation).

Inspectors have started to visit food and pharmaceutical sales centers to check the price flow applied to the products.

For his part Rameau Normil, the Director General a.i. of the Haitian National Police (PNH) announced that it had deployed surveillance officers in all areas to enforce these measures and invited the victims of "black market" to call the nearest police station or one of these telephone number 4730 2691/2943 1868

Sunday March 22, following the visit of inspectors from the Ministry of Commerce, several responsibles and managers of the "Fresh Market", "Konpa Market" and "Caribbean Market" supermarkets were arrested by the police in the presence of an accused justice of the peace accused of "black market" and illegal speculation (price abuse) as well as those in charge of the "Obonsoins" pharmacy.

TB/ HaitiLibre