Jagdeo seeks government intervention

The Bharrat Jagdeo administration has written to the Jamaican government seeking its intervention in a purchasing deal between rice growers in Guyana and purchasers here.



George Town wants the government to use its influence to get local buyers to finalise the purchase of several tonnes of rice earmarked for them by Guyanese rice exporters.



Guyana’s Agriculture minister, Robert Persaud, said the move follows reports by several exporters that they have thousands of tonnes of rice ready to ship.



He said Jamaican buyers are not finalising the purchase arrangements with urgency.



He said approximately 32,000 tonnes of rice have been earmarked for Jamaican buyers between now and the next crop.



Mr. Persaud said he is very worried about the situation in light of Jamaica’s commitment to exporters in Guyana.



Jamaica has previously given a commitment that at least 60,000 tonnes of rice would be purchased from Guyana, annually.



This assurance was given earlier in the year when Jamaica applied for a waiver on the CARICOM Common External Tariff to allow for the importation of rice from the United States.



Guyana had indicated its intention to oppose the application initially, but later agreed not to do so since Jamaica assured a guaranteed purchase of 60,000 tonnes of rice from Guyanese exporters.