Jens-Frederik Nielsen on security of supply: - The government does not want savings

There will be no savings on supplies to Upernavik and its settlements.

Regular meetings are also held to ensure that the requirements in the Government's service contract with KNI A/S are met.

This is stated by Chairman of the Greenland Government Jens-Frederik Nielsen, the Democrats, among other things, in a paragraph 37 response to member of Inatsisartut Isak Johannesen, Naleraq.

Challenges

During the winter months, there is no ship transport of goods to the area, as ice covers Upernavik and the surrounding area from November to May.

Last year, Air Greenland pointed out in an article in Sermitsiaq that there are challenges with passengers and cargo to Upernavik by helicopter in the winter. As a result, Upernavik and the nine settlements experience a major shortage of goods, including essential necessities, for several months of the year, says member of Inatsisartut Isak Johannesen from Upernavik.

On this basis, he asked Naalakkersuisut about the challenges that Pilersuisoq in Upernavik faces in connection with the supply of goods.

Ongoing adjustments

Isak Johannesen wanted to know whether Pilersuisoq A/S, which has stores in seven of Upernavik's nine settlements, had reduced the amount of goods.

The Government of Greenland has entered into a service contract with KNI A/S for the supply of goods, whereby KNI A/S, which owns Pilersuisoq, undertakes to deliver goods in Upernavik and the settlements.

According to Jens-Frederik Nielsen, the service contract also includes the opening of shops in areas where it is not possible to establish a shop at an affordable price.

- According to the contract attached to the contract, Pilersuisoq's shop in Upernavik must have 340 different items for sale.

However, according to KNI A/S, adjustments have been necessary during the autumn of last year so that the shops no longer sell goods that are not sold or are sold very little in addition to the basic imported goods.

KNI is continuously adapting to these goods, and the Government of Greenland is continuously monitoring whether the service contracts meet the requirements, the Chairman of the Government of Greenland emphasizes.

No savings

KNI A/S has the same prices throughout the country, and to improve operations there may be different discounts in the individual cities. However, new goods, such as fruit shipped by air, may be more expensive compared to previous costs, according to a response to Isak Johannesen.

- The Greenland Government has not ordered anyone to save on the supply of Upernavik and the surrounding settlements.

- The Greenland Government does not want savings on the coast, and it is important for us to treat all citizens of Greenland equally regardless of where they live, emphasizes Jens-Frederik Nielsen.

The service contract also includes securing basic supplies in the Upernavik area.

Not easy

To ensure that the contract terms are met, the Self-Government meets regularly with KNI A/S.

- As the Government of Greenland has previously stated, it is desirable that the prices of goods in Greenland can be lower for the benefit of the population.

But it is not an easy goal because it involves costs for transport, storage and later disposal, says Jens-Frederik Nielsen.

According to the response to Isak Johannesen, KNI A/S is in the process of developing a better business model, where it is emphasized that trade must be adjusted according to population size and purchase volumes in some places.

More questions

According to Isak Johannesen, the Chairman of the Government of Greenland raised a number of new questions and said that he would pursue the matter further to learn more.

- I would like to know more about food shortages for allergy sufferers and about expired goods being sold.

- But I would also like to know more about how icebreakers can be used to deliver supplies all year round to towns and villages in ice-covered areas, says Isak Johannesen.

He believes that there are large differences in the supply of food in Disko Bay and further north, and that a more equitable distribution should be ensured.