Jamaica’s request for CET rice waiver not granted by COTED

May 12, 2008 News

…countries to hold bilateral discussions

Jamaica did not get its rice waiver request granted at the just concluded Twenty-Sixth Special Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED). Instead, Guyana and Jamaica have been urged to continue bilateral discussions on the issue.

The rice issue was raised at the COTED meeting in Antigua and Barbuda, where discussions were held on Jamaica’s need for a stock of rice due to an emergency situation, and Guyana’s ability to supply the commodity.

Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud had stated that Guyana can meet Jamaica’s need for an estimated 50,000 tons of rice.

Jamaica had requested a suspension of the Common External Tariff (CET) to import rice from extra-regional sources.

Suriname, which also produces and exports rice, indicated its ability to supply to Jamaica, but is prepared to agree to the suspension of the CET as a special consideration of Jamaica’s emergency needs.

At the conclusion of the one-day meeting, on Saturday last, Irwin LaRocque, Assistant Secretary-General, Trade and Economic Integration (TEI), said the Heads of Government of Jamaica and Guyana are to hold consultations and inform CARICOM Secretary-General Edwin Carrington on the outcome.

With regard to ensuring the effectiveness of the Monitoring Mechanism for Rice, Member States of the Community were urged to submit data on the production, import and export of rice, and the application of the CET. Member States have also agreed to continued discussions towards the resolution of issues relating to the import of flour by Antigua and Barbuda under the provisions of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas.

In accordance with a mandate from the Twenty-Fourth Special COTED, Secretary-General Carrington delivered to the Meeting a report based on discussions with Antigua and Barbuda, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Grenada on the supply price of flour. Antigua and Barbuda is currently importing flour from Guyana and is continuing to receive supplies from St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The Meeting has mandated the Secretary-General to bring the parties together to seek a resolution on the modalities for determining the price of flour.

Although COTED recognized the recent increases in the international price for wheat, several Member States expressed concern about the rising cost of flour and the implications for the cost of living.
The Rising Cost of Living is an agenda item of the upcoming Twenty-Seventh Special COTED Meeting on Agriculture, scheduled to be held in Guyana later in May.

That meeting will focus on food production in the context of poverty and the rising cost of living.

Latest News

Jamaica’s request for CET rice waiver not granted by COTED

…countries to hold bilateral discussions

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | December, 2nd, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

National Indoor Recurve Archery tournament to shoot off from January...

GDF ‘A’ crowned GFF/Maid Marian Women’s Cup...

Harpy Eagles to bowl off practice games ahead of...

Former British Guiana footballer Alvin Geronimo...

Guyanese MMA star Harris set for octagon return...

GCF Calls Urgent Extraordinary General Meeting to...

Features/Columnists

Boxing should be banned

Forget Begging Rich Nations: Caribbean Countries Should Act to Save Themselves

2024 – more reflections

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]

Jamaica’s request for CET rice waiver not granted by COTED

…countries to hold bilateral discussions

Share this:

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | December, 2nd, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]