Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Manniram Prashad said the ministry is monitoring rising chicken prices and if there is no reduction soon it will grant licences to import chicken.
According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release, Prashad said the ministry has received assurances from the Guyana Poultry Producers Association that the prices will be reduced. The reason touted for the high prices was late arrival of “hatching eggs”, the release said.
Prashad said he met Deo Singh of DIDCO and was given assurances that the company has already started hatching eggs and that an adequate supply will be available at a reduced price. He cautioned producers of local chicken to make sure that their businesses are properly supervised, so that there would be sufficient supply of chicken on the local market.
According to GINA, in his 2010 budget presentation before the National Assembly in February, Prashad said that in 2009, the price for chicken at the markets was fairly stable and there was no shortage. He also said that last year, for the first time, no chicken was imported throughout the Christmas season.
Prashad also urged customers to examine goods for expiry dates when purchasing supplies. He noted that the Guyana National Bureau of Standards and the ministry have teams scrutinizing businesses to ensure that expired products are not being sold.
