-to meet shortfall in supplies
THE Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce has announced the granting of licences to 12 local businesses, to import chicken to meet the shortfall in supply on the local market. However, the ministry explained that it never restricted the importation of chicken, but it attracted a 100 percent duty to protect the interest of local producers.
A release from the ministry said it is always in receipt of applications for licences to import this commodity, but some persons reluctantly undertake to import chicken at the prescribed duty.
The majority of companies were advocating for a 60 percent reduction of the tariff, to enable them to be competitive on the local market.
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 last, granted an initial approval for all 12 pending applications to import a limited amount of chicken for a period of three months to combat the scarcity of the commodity, the ministry said.
The importers were granted a fifty percent waiver on duty instead of the sixty percent that they had requested by way of applications for permission to import eight (8) million pounds over the next six months. The licences would expire on September 12 next, to prevent hoarding of permits by persons who may be inclined to capitalise on future vagaries of the market.
The local businesses granted chicken import licences include: Nova Scotia Manufacturing; Balkhrison Ramdass; Andrea Shalieza; Karran; Deolall Rampersaud; Winston Roberts; Sewlall Seepersaud; DIDCO Trading Company; Lynden Fung; Goolmohamed Bacchus; Friendship Hotel; Ismail Janmahamad; and Nigel’s Supermarket.