The 12 importers who were granted licenses to import one million pounds of chicken went through the general application process before they received the license, says Willet Hamilton, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce.
Two Thursdays ago, acting Minister of Commerce Irfaan Ali approved the importation of one million pounds of chicken by licensing twelve persons to do so. This, he said, was done to cushion the effect of the rise in the prices for chicken. The licences were granted for a three months period and will expire on September 12.
The Ministry in a subsequent press release stated that the importation of chicken was never restricted by the government and that they are always in receipt of applications for licences to import the commodity. “In response to the recent hike in price for chicken on the local market and following consultation with a major player within the industry, government on June 13, 2012 granted an initial approval for all the pending applications (12 in number), to import a limited amount of chicken for a period of three months to combat the scarcity of the commodity,” the Ministry stated.
It said that imported chicken currently attracts a 100% duty but due to the scarcity, the importers were granted a 50% waiver on duty instead of 60% that they were advocating for.
According to the Ministry the persons/ entities granted licences are: Nova Scotia Manufacturing, Andrea Shalieza Karran, Balkhrison Ramdass, Deolall Ram- persaud, Winston Roberts, Sewlall Seepersaud, DIDCO Trading Company, Lynden Fung, Goolmohamed Bacchus, Friendship Hotel, Ismail Janmahamad and Nigel’s Supermarket. They applied to import eight million pounds of chicken over the next six months.
When contacted on Wednesday, Hamilton told Stabroek News that the licences were granted based on the applications they received. “We received twelve applications and all were granted. It was granted based on the general process that everyone goes through. That is, they apply for the licences and we assess them and it is granted if it is fit,” he said. When the Ministry made the pronouncement of persons being granted licenses to import chicken, it sparked controversy amongst some chicken producers who were not granted licences for the importation. On this note, Hamilton said that the importers are aware of the process for being licensed to import the commodity and those who were granted went through that process. “We do not publicly advertise for the importation of chicken and we simply just selected who applied,” he said.
Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr. Roger Luncheon, at his weekly post-cabinet press briefing last week, said Cabinet was advised about the surge in prices of poultry attributed to a significant shortfall in availability in the local retail sector. “Inter regional shifts, cabinet was advised, had a lot to do with that shortfall,” he had said. “The poultry meat was following so many Guyanese into the hinterland regions so that shift was noted as the main reason for the reduction in the availability on the coast and that led to price increases,” he said. The price of the commodity has not yet fallen since Stabroek News’ last survey.
Prices for baby chicks and poultry rearing supplies have all skyrocketed resulting in the increase in the prices for the commodity as well as the shortage. Baby chicks are still being sold at $140 each while Broiler Starter increased from $6500 to a maximum of $8000 at some outlets. A bag of Broiler Grower that is normally retailed for $6000 now costs $8000 to $8500. The price for plucked chicken and live chicken remains the same.
