The Pacific Clipper has been loaded and will set sail for Venezuela with the first consignment of paddy under a landmark US$18.8M deal.
Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud, along with representatives from the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) and the Guyana Rice Producers’ Association (GRPA), inspected the loading of the vessel. Loading of the Pacific Clipper was expected to be completed some time last night at the John Fernandes Wharf on Water Street, Georgetown. It was expected to set sail shortly after.
On October 21, Guyana and Venezuela inked the US$18.8M ($3.7B) rice purchase agreement which should see 50,000 tonnes of paddy and rice being supplied to that country in the next few months at a price higher than current export prices. The Agriculture Ministry had disclosed that initially 10,000 tonnes of white rice and 40,000 tonnes of paddy will be exported. The export price for paddy, he had said, will be US$330 per metric tonne (covering cost and freight) while for the “five percent broken” white rice, the cost will be US$560 per tonne.
The first shipment under this deal was expected to leave since the first week in November. However, it was delayed and is now expected to arrive in Venezuela by December 27 or 28. Persaud noted that this shipment is very important since it is the first to ever set sail for Caracas.
Approximately 5000 tonnes of paddy has been sent on the first shipment.
Exports were originally expected to be completed by the first week of February. However, with the continuous delays in shipment it is not clear whether the February deadline can still be adhered to.
Last Friday Persaud, speaking about the most recent delay in shipment, said it occurred because the contracted vessel, the Pacific Clipper was not available. He had stressed that the delay in shipment was not due to unavailability of paddy. Some 4,000 tonnes of paddy, Persaud had said, is expected on the first shipment.
The Pacific Clipper had arrived in Guyana with a cargo of cement at the scheduled time. However, it could not be accommodated at the Guyana National Shipping Company (GNSC) wharf to offload because another vessel was there up to last Tuesday.
With the departure of LOGOS 2 on Tuesday, Persaud said, Pacific Clipper was able to approach the GNSC wharf and offload its cargo.
