10 Mar 2005

American Samoa to probe alleged price gouging after Cyclone Olaf

9:54 am on 10 March 2005

A government task force has been established to investigate allegations of price gouging in American Samoa following Cyclone Olaf.

The territory's attorney general, Sialega Malaetasi Togafau, says the task force has been set up on the instructions of Gov. Togiola Tulafono.

He says the governor's call for an investigation was based on complaints from the public that there were stores and businesses who increased prices following the aftermath of Olaf.

Some complaints alleged that suppliers raised their prices by 100 percent or even more.

Togafua says information gathered by the investigation will also help draft proper legislation to address such practices because no current law exists to deal with price control.