Guyana has signalled its intention to block to Jamaica’s plans to import rice extra-regionally after the island sought an immediate suspension of the Common External Tariff (CET) on the commodity.
Sources close to the Ministry of Agriculture disclosed that Minister Robert Persaud made a statement to this effect.
According to the Jamaica Gleaner, on Tuesday local distributors and importers of the staple from Guyana threw their support behind the decision made by the Jamaica government. The move, announced Monday afternoon, is being made to secure supplies of rice from outside the region, for Jamaican consumers. The paper said the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce issued a statement on Monday saying that following discussions with leading players of the Guyanese rice industry, the government had moved for the suspension of the 25 per cent CET to ensure adequate supplies of the staple in the local market.
