Capleton Criticizes Spiking Food Prices With ‘Gone Up’

Dancehall artist Capleton is concerned that Jamaican consumers will be hit with higher prices for agricultural items within the next couple of weeks because of the devastating effects of Hurricane Beryl on farmers in the ravaged farmlands in the bread basket parish, St. Elizabeth.

“Food is the staff of life,” Capleton said. “We cannot do without food and water. So we’re calling on the government to pay more attention to agriculture, prayers up for every farmer and Jamaican right now.”

He believes that massive price increases could be coming for Jamaican consumers.

“The devastation in the farming communities is tremendous, the prices of agricultural products will be going up, crops have been destroyed, roads blocked, animals lost…so we need some relief for the poor, Jamaica is facing a difficult time, ” he said.

Capleton’s latest single, Gone Up, was produced by Control Tower Squad. Released two weeks ago, a video for the project has racked up almost 241,000 views so far.

“The song is very relevant, it is just about everyday struggles, the cost of living is always getting high, and this is a global phenomenon, look at the protests in Kenya, since the global pandemic, rent, bus fare, school fee, toll fee gone up, can’t believe every likkle ting gone up,” the Fireman said.

“This song is letting the people know it is not all about guzu, chopping the line or popping pills, education is the key, when mom and dad send you to school, make the best use of it.”

Jamaica is facing a difficult journey as it recovers from the recent hurricane. Economists say that there is evidence of higher prices for basic groceries in the aftermath of each storm that disproportionately impact lower-income communities in affected states in the USA. Low-income families end up paying anywhere between one and five percent more relative to high-income households for essential food and goods.

PRICE GOUGING

Prime Minister Andrew Holness warned retailers this week against price gouging due to the possible impact of the hurricane on goods and services.

“We issued an order under the Trade Act to prevent price gouging on essential goods. I ask the public to report any instance of price gouging, meaning an increase in price over and above what you were paying for the same product or service before,” Holness stated.

Prime Minister Holness maintained that citizens should have access to the necessary supplies at fair prices, while advising that reports of gouging can be made to the Consumer Affairs Commission or directly to the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce.

Stakeholders in the pepper industry have already hinted at higher prices as early reports from Walkerswood’s core farmers in Clarendon and St Elizabeth indicate “severe damage, particularly in the Scotch Bonnet pepper crop, with anticipated short-term impacts on escallion.”

In the face of these challenges, Capleton urged the government to encourage youth farming to create greater food security in the future.

“We need the government to give or lease land to the youths to farm because a nation that cannot feed itself is not a strong one. We shouldn’t be importing so many items, because it makes us vulnerable as a people,” Capleton said.

Extreme weather is one of the main factors contributing towards massive price surges as massive flooding has destroyed crops and killed livestock at regular intervals. According to the Bank of Jamaica, core inflation, which excludes all food types as well as fuel prices (including transport prices), from the Consumer Price Index (CPI)) was 5.6 per cent at May 2024, marginally lower than the previous month.

Capleton, the conceptualiser of the popular charity show A St Mary Mi Come From, is gearing up for the annual show will be held at Gray’s Inn Sports Complex in Annotto Bay, St Mary, on August 5.

Capleton, known as an advocate, especially for the financial and spiritual upliftment of residents of impoverished communities, stressed the importance of the show.

“It is very important, because giving and sharing is the act of God, and I am a humanitarian. I love to give back to schools and hospitals, reform centres, and community centres. I keep back-to-school treats in St Mary, even in Kingston,” the Raggy Road singer said.

Capleton is known for hit songs such as “Number One on the Look Good Chart”, “No Lotion Man”, “Almshouse”, “Tour”, “Prophet” and “Cold Blooded Murderer”.

He landed a deal with Russell Simmons’ Def Jam Recordings which resulted in the Prophecy and I -Testament albums of the mid-1990s. He was nominated for a Grammy in 2003 for the album “Still Blazin” VP Records.