Consumers will now be able to keep tract of the prices of a number of items available at supermarkets here, by simply using their mobile devices.
This comes as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Commerce, in collaboration with the National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (NTRC) has launched a mobile application for consumers here in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
The app “Vincy Prices” is available for download in Google Play Store.
Speaking on Thursday March 30th 2017 at the launch of the App at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Conference Room, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Commerce, Sir Louis Straker explained that the app provides the general public with information on comparative prices of various commodities at different supermarkets.
“The app will provide consumers with the location of the best priced commodities which will assist in reducing shopping time.”
“In addition the app will give the user the ability to scan items at different supermarkets and receive a listing of the availability and prices of the same item at different locations,” Minister Straker said.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs said the idea for the mobile app was initially developed by four students of the St. Vincent Grammar School-Luc Telemaque, Luke Bullock, Christon Friday and Jeaniel Ibraham-of the group E.C.Us, who participated in the NTRC’s I Square competition in 2014.
Minister Straker said the App list the prices of items available at several of the leading supermarkets here. These include Coreas Hazells (Coreas Food Mart), C.K. Greaves, Randy’s Supermarket, Massy Stores, P.H. Veira and Bonadie Supermarkets.
According to Minister Straker the last pricing update of the app took place on Wednesday March 29, 2017.
He said the Ministry is committed to sending the pricing data to the Commission every second (2nd) and fourth (4th) week of the month after the consumer affairs officers have gone out and collected the data.
“Once received the prices are updated into the database by the next working day, Minister Straker explained.
He is encouraging the general public to download the app “Vincy Prices”, to utilize it and to provide feedback that will allow for further development of the app.
It’s great to hear that the idea for this app came out of the I-Squared competition. There are a lot of other great ideas to be implemented!