T Grant, Woodstock: Walmart is as greedy as any other retailer but offers low prices in the hope of driving its competitors out of business. If successful in this, it is likely to raise its prices as high as it can and pay its employees and suppliers as little as possible, which admittedly is what most retailers would do if their pockets were deep enough.
Many believe we should kill the serpent while it is still in its egg. I am inclined to agree as Walmart is likely to cold-shoulder many local suppliers (creating unemployment) and repatriate a large share of its profits. Local retailers are like pigeons compared with Walmart. Competition is the goose that lays the golden egg.
The Competition Tribunal should, in the absence of binding promises, rule in favour of competition. Keep the tigers out. Or make them beg.
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