Audio: Minister Lightbourne On Cost Of Living
Minister Alexa Lightbourne discusses price transparency, fair markets and proposed competition measures in the latest episode of the Government of Bermuda’s Leaders on the Record podcast.
A Government spokesperson said, “The Minister of Home Affairs, the Hon. Alexa Lightbourne, JP, MP, returns to the Government of Bermuda’s Leaders on the Record podcast for a detailed discussion on price transparency and fair markets in Bermuda, and what these measures could mean for consumers and business.
“In the latest episode, Minister Lightbourne explains how the Cost of Living Commission Amendment (No.2) Bill would strengthen price transparency by giving the Commission greater visibility into the costs that contribute to the prices on the shelf.
“She also discusses why a 5 percent increase in the price of a monitored item triggers additional reporting to the Commission, and how the Government intends to assess whether millions of dollars in duty relief on essential goods from the Government is actually being reflected in the prices paid by consumers.
“The Minister also addresses matters of interest to both consumers and businesses and explains the distinction between setting prices and requiring greater transparency around the costs that contribute to shelf prices.
“The discussion goes beyond individual grocery prices and into the wider structure of Bermuda’s economy, including proposed competition legislation, dominant market positions, mergers and acquisitions, and the prospect of greater regulatory scrutiny in sectors where competition may be limited.
“Leaders on the Record is designed to move beyond formal announcements and give the public direct access to senior leaders as they discuss policy, government priorities, national issues and the work being done across Government. Minister Lightbourne’s interview is available now and can be found at Leaders on The Record.”
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Dear Minister,
Please will you also explain the cost burden to businesses of complying with the extra reporting burden you are placing on businesses by the proposed amendment.
The Chamber of Commerce has already voiced opposition to this Bill and explained why in real terms. See https://bernews.com/2026/09/chamber-examines-cost-of-living-bill-2026/
Finally, I did not miss that the Chamber of Commerce response contradicts years of Department of Statistics and Minister of Finance declarations that food inflation in Bermuda is lower than that in the United States (Bermuda food +41.9%, United States food +39.9% over the same decade [December 2015 - March 2026]).
Lol more hot air lord have mercy
Minister Lightbourne is the only politician that has shown a commitment to addressing the cost-of-living problem. Clearly, she, nor the government, can solely achieve this, but she has been willing to take it to the business community and the public should be grateful.
For some reason, people find it so much easier to blame the government but in actual fact, it is private business who are to fault and whenever government tries to implement or intervene, the OBA and the special interest groups decide to thwart any progress.
Who is really benefiting from the high cost of living?
Watching, I know you do not like backing up your statements with facts, but perhaps you will make an exception this time.
You say “Minister Lightbourne is the only politician that has shown a commitment to addressing the cost-of-living problem”. How do you say Miniter Lightbourne proposes to address the “cost-of-living problem”?