The Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) has been directed to deploy mobile units to East Berbice to sell sugar at the suggested retail price following reports that the price of the commodity had been increased in the Region Six area.

A press release from the GMC yesterday stated that in response to reports by consumers in East Berbice that some distributors and retailers of sugar had unjustifiably increased the price for that commodity,
Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud, directed the Corporation to deploy mobile units to the affected areas to ensure that sugar is available at the suggested retail price.

The release said that Persaud indicated that the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), has not increased the price for sugar nor has it reduced the quantity being supplied to distributors, thereby justifying an increase in retail prices. GuySuCo has since reiterated that there is no shortfall in the supply of sugar, the release added.

Persaud also pointed out that GuySuCo and the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) are collaborating, following reports of sugar being smuggled to neighbouring Suriname across the Corentyne River. The release noted that sugar is subsidised locally and is sold in Guyana below the price offered to the export market.

It added that the Minister further indicated that GuySuCo has been asked to review its distribution arrangement in East Berbice and work has started in this regard. The sugar company would be working closely with the Guyana Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) to ensure that the supply of sugar remains adequate.

GuySuCo and GMC over the weekend targeted several East Berbice communities where sugar prices have reportedly increased. These include Manchester, Lancaster, Whim and Tain, among others. The exercise will continue until the price for sugar in the affected areas returns to normal.

The GMC has been deploying mobile units countrywide over the last several weeks, making available to consumers, commodities such as rice and flour at affordable prices, in keeping with government’s ongoing food price assistance programme, the release said.