Bogotá’s Mayor Threatens To Shutter PriceSmart, Makro

Bogotá’s Mayor Claudia Lopez in a radio interview with W Radio in Colombia threatened to shut down Pricesmart (NASDAQ: PSMT) and Makro, two international warehouse club-style retail chains that operate throughout Colombia. Makro is a Dutch multinational belonging to the Steenkolen Handels Vereeniging group strong in South America, and PriceSmart with ties to the Costco retail chain is a US multinational that operates in the Caribbean, Central America & Colombia.

“Look misters of PriceSmart, misters of Makro, I have seen that you are not controlling your traffic flow. You run the risk that we close you down. Here, everyone has to do their part,” said Lopez during the radio interview.

This after the mayor herself was caught violating the same curfew she is claiming to enforce. Colombia’s attorney general opened an investigation against the probable 2022 Presidential candidate after she was seen with her spouse, Colombian congresswoman Angélica Lozano shopping in a supermarket in Bogotá in plain violation of the restrictions. Both the mayor and her spouse apologized after being sanctioned and publicly shamed on social media.

To verify, Finance Colombia, in compliance with public health restrictions made multiple visits to PriceSmart and found that the store was enforcing strict public safety measures, including denying entry to members who were out on days inconsistent with curfew restrictions, limiting occupancy, disinfecting shopping carts, and using personal protective equipment.

Photo: Claudia Lopez on Twitter