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THE Consumer Affairs Division currently no power to penalise businesses for price-gouging, but the Ministry of Trade, Investment and Tourism says legislation to change that is in the works.

The issue surfaced during a meeting of the Joint Select Committee (JSC) on Finance and Legal Affairs, which examined how trade policy could strengthen Trinidad and Tobago’s food security and reduce the country’s rising food import bill.

Committee chair Dr Marlene Attzs and members Brian Manning and Vishnu Dhanpaul pressed ministry officials on escalating grocery prices, a persistent concern for consumers.