Incensed that the price of doubles had increased by $1 although the government had removed VAT on groceries, several customers refused to buy doubles at a stall in Debe on Monday.
“It is ridiculous. I went to Hassanali’s Green Shed and they increased the price of doubles and other items by one dollar. They charging an extra fifty cents for channa. I am not buying doubles for $6 and alloo pie with channa for $6.50,” Neeranjan Barban declared as he walked away.
Guardian Media checked the price of doubles in South Trinidad which varied from $2 to $6 even though the price of oil, channa and flour has become cheaper with the removal of VAT.
However, while the price at Hassanali’s Green Shed had increased by $1, other vendors along the Debe strip including Hosein’s Indian Delicacies and Singh’s shed remained the same. Krishna’s was closed for the day.
The owner of Hosein’s Indian Delicacies, Sherieda Hosein said any price increase of doubles at this time was unjustified as the cost of materials had been reduced.
A sign in front of her booth read, “Doubles Still $5, Channa and Sauces Free.”
Hosein said while some commodities had increased since the removal of VAT, some products like the cost of oil had been reduced.
“We used to pay $300 for a keg of oil but it is now $260 but the channa raised from $260 to $350,” she said.
Despite this, Hosein said they were cognizant of the challenges that people were facing and had decided not to raise their price. “We can still make a decent profit if we sell at $5 so we decided along with most other vendors to keep our price at $5,” she added.
Meanwhile, in Penal, one vendor in Barrackpore sold her doubles at $4 while in Wilson Road, Penal doubles sold for $2.
At the M2 Ring Road in Debe, doubles sold at $4. Some people said they will boycott the vendors who are selling doubles for $6. Nigel Clement said doubles is a poor man’s food.
“The price increase is ridiculous. I will not pay $6 and $6.50. I also noticed they are making the doubles smaller and some people are charging extra fifty cents for sauces and extra channa,” he added.
Guardian Media sought to get a response from Hassanali’s Green Shed as to why the price had increased although VAT had been removed from grocery items.
A woman identified as the owner refused to comment. She said, “Nobody can bash me for increasing my price,” she added.
The doubles strip in Debe has been a tourist attraction with hundreds of people eating at the booths especially during the weekends.
Reporter: RADHICA DE SILVA
