Community Struggling With High Prices Of Basic Needs Items

The Chief of Suku of Camea, in the Administrative Post of Cristu Rei, Matos da Costa, said the start of the new year of 2023, brought with it concerns for the raising prices for basic needs items in the markets.

He added inflation is due to world market prices and because Timor-Leste is an importing economy, so, when producing nations raise their prices, this has implications for nations like Timor-Leste. He said the government is also raising import taxes. All these factors impact on prices of goods in the markets.

“We are well aware of the types of jobs in the community, according to our data. Some are public servants grade 2 or 3, and they are worried about the rising prices of goods. Let alone our community, most of whom live from agriculture or micro businesses’ including selling wood, animals, or small items to sustain their lives,” he said in Matadouro, Dili.

Chief Matos also asked for the government to be accountable, including the relevant ministries responsible for monitoring and controlling market prices. Also, those socialising the laws to business operators’ so they do not raise the prices of goods arbitrarily, including the prices of basic goods as this will mostly affect vulnerable communities.

Meanwhile, the President of Commission D, in the National Parliament, dealing with Development and Economic affairs, MP António Bianco said business operators who raise their prices arbitrarily are committing a crime, because during the General Budget discussions for 2023, the government agreed it would only raise import taxes on selective products and those that affect public health.

“We must think of ways to save our population from products that negatively affect their health. We are not talking about basic goods. AIFAESA will have to monitor this and the parliament as well must be accountable for controlling the actions of business operators’,” he added.

He said some products affect public health, including tobacco, sugar, and alcohol, and these products will attract higher taxes because statistics show many Timorese are suffering from diabetes, and other non-infectious diseases, and not just the elderly, but young people as well.