KINGSTON, Jamaica – Jamaican rice distributors and importers of the staple from Guyana have thrown their support behind Government’s decision to apply to CARICOM for an immediate suspension of the Common External Tariff on the commodity.
The move, announced Monday afternoon, is being made to secure supplies of rice, from outside the region, for Jamaican consumers.
The Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce said that following discussions with leading players of the Guyanese rice industry, the Government has moved for the suspension of the 25 per cent CET to ensure adequate supplies of the staple in the local market.
“Owing to the lack of any firm commitment from the government of Guyana, the ministry has moved to apply for an immediate suspension of the CET on 4,000 tonnes of rice per month for the next six months,” the statement read. “This is a total volume of 24,000 tonnes of milled rice for the period May to October 2008.”
Jamaican importers have for several months indicated that they were unable to secure sufficient and consistent supplies, resulting in a tightening of supplies on the domestic market.
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