NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Bahamians will soon be able to compare prices across stores through a new competition app aimed at driving down the cost of living, according to Senator Randy Rolle Chairman of the Consumer Protection Commission (CPC).
Speaking at the 19th Annual Exuma Business Outlook, Rolle revealed that the government has approved the roll-out of the new digital tool, which will allow consumers nationwide to easily find the best prices on goods and services.
“I can tell you that the government just approved a competition app that we will launch within the next couple of weeks,” Rolle said. “Now what this app does is this app allows individual stores and other places to put their prices, and so Bahamians will be able to go on an app, whether in Nassau or the Family Islands, and find the best prices to bring more competition.”
Rolle explained that the platform will help encourage fair pricing by allowing shoppers to compare costs directly.Rolle added that the initiative forms part of the government’s broader Affordable Bahamas agenda, mandated by the Prime Minister, to explore multiple strategies to curb high costs across the country.
“We’re looking at a number of different initiatives. That’s why I say it’s a part of Affordable Bahamas. We were looking at a number of different ways to drive down the cost of living,” he said.
According to Rolle, several factors contribute to higher prices in the Family Islands, including additional shipping costs and multiple layers of markups by distributors and merchants.
“From the initial stages, some shippers add on extra price when they’re shipping to Exuma. Then the merchant adds on a price on top of that. And so there’s a number of different things — it’s just not one item,” Rolle said.
He noted that in addition to the competition app, the government’s Trade Diversification Program is targeting long-term structural improvements by sourcing goods directly from international suppliers to reduce import costs.
“Another thing we’re doing is the trade diversification program, and that is something that the government has implemented as well, where we have a team that’s going to different places throughout the world and finding cheaper products to bring to the country,” Rolle explained. “For example, what used to happen in the past is that the same meat you get from Brazil would go to the U.S., then to The Bahamas. That’s an extra added-on cost. When we can take that same place, go to Brazil ourselves, and have it come directly to The Bahamas.”
He continued:“We’re going to work with shippers and small business entrepreneurs to make sure that we cut costs by having one direct access. It’s trying to eliminate the middleman — that would make things cheaper for Bahamians.”
Rolle emphasized that alongside these new initiatives, the CPC has already been achieving tangible results for consumers through enforcement and dispute resolution.
“From January 2025 to September 2025, the Commission successfully facilitated the recovery of funds totalling one hundred forty-nine thousand, nine hundred twenty-one dollars and forty-two cents (BS$149,921.42) on behalf of consumers. This is from 209 complaints processed by the CPC so far for the year. We are seeing increases in complaints related to digital commerce, refund disputes, and non-delivery of service. This figure also reflects our ongoing commitment to ensuring fair resolution of consumer complaints and restoring public confidence in the marketplace. The recovery efforts from the hardworking CPC teams on the ground have shown consistent performance across quarters. The Commission has also observed increased cooperation from vendors and greater consumer engagement. This has contributed to a steady rise in successful resolutions.”
Rolle said the CPC will continue collaborating with the private sector and other government agencies to promote transparency and accountability in the marketplace.
“If more competition is available, then persons will be forced to drop their prices because the competition is much greater,” he said.
