A slap on the wrist is not enough when it comes to taking action against retailers who are unscrupulous and deceitful in raising the prices of goods when they should not. And all of this for a few extra tala.

The people in this country are burdened daily with the cost of living. For many, buying food means foregoing something else. The bills will be delayed, sometimes it means that one child stays home from school for a few days, and most times it means opting for an unhealthier, cheaper alternative. A big reason for non-communicable diseases. More is expected from the enforcement agency that polices prices.

The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour said they continue to carry out quarterly monitoring inspections of retailers nationwide. These inspections are designed to ensure compliance with pricing regulations and fair trading practices. "During these inspections, some retailers were found to have increased prices beyond acceptable levels," MCIL reported. "Those found in breach were issued immediate warnings and placed under close follow-up monitoring." According to the Ministry, follow-up visits revealed that previously non-compliant retailers had returned to full compliance.

Just a warning is not enough to deter retailers. If businesses are violating price control orders, they should be slapped with a fine in the first instance, and the fine should be a hefty one; a repeat offence should include a fine and the business being closed until the fine is paid. If money is what is motivating business to suck the blood out of the poor, then use money to teach these businesses a lesson. Enough is enough. How much more will the poor suffer? We need inspections to be done monthly.

The public has to be protected. If the ministry has the power to bring about a positive change in ensuring fair prices to consumers across the board, then it must act on it. It is the responsibility of a good government to ensure that a person earning minimum wage can feed their family. The government has to ensure that, through sound policies, people are not being forced to consider cheaper and less healthy nutrition. This is one of the reasons why 80 per cent of deaths in Samoa are due to non-communicable diseases.

It is good to hear that the first Price Control Order (PCO) for 2025 is in its final stage of development, with administrative procedures for formal approval. The last order was issued in December 2024, and the country was without one for the first six months of the year. Why did this happen? We know that most retailers would take the opportunity to put up prices at the blink of an eye. It is business, and at the end of the day, the motive is to make a profit. The price control order is an integral part of maintaining low prices for basic food items. It ensures that all Samoans can afford the basics they require to afford a living, even if it is not the most comfortable. For it not to be issued for over half a year is a worrying sign. Can it be explained why this was not done?

The price control unit can do its part in regulating prices and enforcing the laws. The bigger issue is the lack of investment in the agriculture and fisheries sector. The food import bill is high. Vegetables and fruits that can be produced locally and are high in nutritional value are missing from markets. Samoa’s agriculture sector is struggling.

Rising food costs can have a major impact on food and nutrition security as these push the most vulnerable households further into poverty and weaken their ability to access adequate food. These hardships can force poor families into a long-lasting poverty trap that becomes ever harder to escape. Particularly for children, even short-term worsening of nutrition can lead to permanent detrimental effects.

While the challenge is formidable, there is no reason that we cannot achieve food security so that all people, at all times, have access to affordable, sufficient, safe and nutritious food. High and volatile prices make things much more difficult for the poor.

If you have the power, then act on it. Sitting idle will not help people.