Some consumers prepared to cut back

Some consumers are against any increase in the price of eggs but some say they would have no choice but to bear with it.

The DAILY NATION spoke to shoppers and business owners recently to gather their thoughts on the proposed increase in the price of eggs by eight cents per egg until year-end.

Chickmont, the island’s largest egg supplier, notified its clients of the increase in a letter last week, citing the need to import one million eggs to meet demand. The increase was to take effect from Monday.

However, later in the day, Minister of Agriculture Indar Weir reported to Starcom Network that the increase would no longer happen because he had spoken to chief executive officer of Chickmont, Peter Defreitas, to bring “stability to the sector”.

At Massy Warrens, St Michael, a shopper who gave her name as “Shelly” said it would be an inconvenience but one which she would have to accept.

“I think it would call for people to be more responsible in other areas but I hope it (the increase) doesn’t go past the end of the year. Right now, I guess it’s necessary to satisfy Barbadians so you can look at it as a responsible response,” she said.

Patricia Williams said any such price rise would force her to cut back on her baking.

“I like to bake my own cakes so that is my main concern. It means I am going to have to cut back now. I’m a bit annoyed,” she said.

Ryan Crichlow is a small restaurant owner. He said it would be a blow because he may not be able to afford to raise his prices in response.

“Right now it’s a problem trying to get stuff like eggs and chicken and it’s a headache getting them at this price point because you can’t pass it on. You pass it on, [people] ain’t going to even come and buy from you, so you’re stuck between a rock and a hard place.

“For me, my biggest problem is meeting demand. It has never been this bad. I had to cut chicken from my menu. It’s a challenge for the small man,” he said.

The business owner said eggs were a staple for many households, along with bread, which he said may also go up should the price of eggs increase. He said it may be a bleak Christmas for many.

A baker in Dome Mall, who requested anonymity, said he had decisions to make should the price of eggs go up.

“People might not want to buy the cakes at the price you would have to put them to so the alternative is to absorb the costs. I don’t know what I’m going to do. I guess the orders I already have, I would leave them at that price but the ones that come in now, I’m going to tell the people that the price is going up and see how it goes,” he said.

In Popular Discounts, Spooners Hill, St Michael, a woman said she sourced her eggs from a small farmer directly. Another woman, who was not identified, said it was “nonsense” to go through the same thing every year.

“Only in the Caribbean things are so expensive. You can ask a million people here and you will get the same [answers]. People who can afford it will not feel it as bad as others, especially not as bad as pensioners who don’t have no other resources.

“Every time it’s coming on to Christmas you have to import eggs?That is nonsense!” she said.

Cynthia Nelson said she did not buy eggs from supermarkets because years ago she realised they were getting smaller and more expensive. However, she said she was a big supporter of small farmers and would buy from a local farmer, even if it was more expensive.

At Carlton in Black Rock, St Michael, Melisia Bartlett said they had no choice but to buy the eggs at whatever cost as it was not a case where you could stockpile the perishable commodity.

“If you buy them and put them down, by the time you ready, you goin’ got chickens,” she said jokingly,“so you have to buy them. If egg prices go up, [the price of]cakes will go up because products that need eggs will also go up. I will have to end up buying fewer eggs. Usually I buy 30 at a time but if they go up, I can’t,” she said.