| Trinidad has now imposed a licence requirement for rice imports from Guyana, causing great distress to Guyanese exporters.Trinidadian importers must apply to that country’s Ministry of Trade for a licence to buy rice from Guyana. Without this licence the rice cannot enter the country.Yesterday, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Guyana Stock Feeds Limited, Robert Badal,holesale Soccer Jerseys, said that he was informed about the decision last week by distributors in Trinidad.According to Badal, this measure should not be imposed since Guyana is a part of CARICOM and as such the free movements of goods should not attract restrictions.The Guyana Rice Development Board and Ministry of Foreign Trade have since been informed of this new requirement.“While I do support licensing for extra-regional goods I cannot support this. This is affecting us greatly. Trinidad is a major market for us,” Badal said.This is a step back for Trinidad as part of CARICOM, he noted, to impose on Guyana such restrictive measures.The licence that is now required will take at least three weeks to be processed.Speaking with Kaieteur News, an official close to the rice industry, said yesterday that this requirement will now make trading arrangements ‘cumbersome.’The official noted that the Ministry of Trade will seek clarification for the imposition.In the meantime,Wholesale NFL Jerseys China, the official said,Wholesale Jerseys Cheap, the industry will have to adjust itself to the requirement.It was, however, noted that such a requirement is strange,Cheap Basketball Jerseys, taking into account the food shortage around the world.This is the second time for the year that the rice industry has been rocked by setbacks.Early in September, Jamaica announced that it would not be purchasing the full quota of rice from Guyana. Jamaica had agreed to purchase 60,000 tonnes of rice from Guyana but that has since been reduced since that country was granted two suspension of the Common External Tariff (CET) to import rice from outside the region.Jamaica does not have any legal obligation to purchase rice from Guyana.Guyana has been operating on a good faith and verbal commitment with that country to purchase the commodity each year.During bilateral discourses with Jamaica on the rice issue earlier in the year, it was decided that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) should be signed to concrete that country’s rice purchase commitment.However,Cheap Stitched Jerseys, that agreement is yet to be concluded since Minister Karl Samuda does not have the legal jurisdiction to give such a guarantee.The Attorney General in that country has indicated that the rice importation issue is a ‘private sector business’ and that Samuda has no authority whatsoever to guarantee anything.As such, Samuda has since presented Guyana with a ‘Best Endeavour’ agreement, which states that he will do all in his power to ensure that the committed quota is imported.Guyana, however,Wholesale Jerseys, is yet to sign on to that agreement.President Bharrat Jagdeo has since stated that he will enquire from Jamaica their definite position on the importation of rice from Guyana.Last year, Jamaica bought over 51,000 tonnes from Guyana. |
