Government allowing chicken importation to prevent consumer exploitation
THE Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce will be issuing licences for the importation of chicken to some poultry producers, in response to the shortage of the product on the local market, as well as the increasing prices being charged consumers. The announcement was made by the Minister responsible for Commerce, Mr. Manniram Prashad at a media briefing in his South Road, Georgetown office, on Wednesday.
He pointed out that the price for chicken has increased significantly, over the past weeks, which, according to reports from the Poultry Producers Association (PPA), was due, in part, to a shortfall in hatching eggs from a major producer.
“The Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce has granted licences to some importers to bring in chicken in the short term, even though we have been assured, by the Poultry Producers Association, that this situation will come back to normal by the end of September,” Prashad stated.
According to him, the decision was made as Government seeks to ensure that consumers are not fleeced, in any way, by unscrupulous persons who may want to take advantage of the current situation on the market.
“The consuming public must be able to have adequate supplies of chicken and other meat. We are monitoring the situation, clearly to make sure that there is an adequate supply of chicken on the local market,” he explained.
Prashad disclosed that the ministry has, so far, granted about six licences to small importers and indicated that other interested persons can submit their requests to the ministry to initiate the process.
He also assured that the situation will be continually monitored to guarantee that, come Christmas time, the consuming public would not face a similar occurrence.
“We want to make sure there is an adequate supply of chicken as well as eggs for the Christmas season. We are not taking any chances. I am saying this to all poultry producers, if I am not satisfied there will be sufficient chicken, then I will resort to giving licence for importers to bring in chicken for that period as well,” Prashad stated.
Despite the fact that the price for chicken and eggs has increased,  consumers must not be made to pay more as a result of someone else’s shortfall, the minister reiterated, noting that, if there is availability of the product as well as choices, then this situation will not recur.
Meanwhile, he gave his assurances that his ministry will continue to work closely with the PPA.
Prashad reported that Guyanese consume close to one million pounds of chicken daily and, as such, the ministry is encouraging local production in an effort to meet this demand.
A check on the local market, during the week, revealed that consumers are now paying between $1,100 and $1,200 per tray of eggs, as compared to $600 and $700 a few weeks ago.
They now pay a range from $400 to $440 per pound for chicken, as opposed to $300 recently.