By Carl Parker
Lethem residents are now contemplating where they will get their supplies of chicken, now that the importation of the item from Brazil was suddenly halted two weeks ago.
A businesswoman inform-ed Stabroek News that they are now not allowed to bring chicken from Brazil any longer because the Customs officials have informed them that it is a restricted item.
Attempts by Stabroek News to clarify this matter with the Guyana Revenue Authority and the Ministry of Commerce in Georgetown have failed. The latter usually presides over applications for the import of chicken but Lethem has been doing its trade with Brazil for some time now without hindrance.
From time immemorial Lethem residents have been getting certain supplies from the neighbouring country. “In fact the only thing we does get from Georgetown is rice, sugar and flour. Sometimes the sugar is so nasty, we does have to revert to the Brazilian sugar to do business,” the businesswoman, known as `Zoar’ said.
Stabroek News contacted the Officer-in Charge of Cus-toms at the Multi- Purpose Centre in Lethem, Kester Kissoon, but he referred this newspaper to Robert James at the Georgetown office who said he did not have any comment to make on the issue.
Meanwhile, Alfred Ramsarran, President of the Rupununi Chamber of Com-merce and Industry (RCCI) confirmed that the commodity has been restricted from crossing the border. Ramsarran said the sudden stop will definitely hurt business in the Rupununi. He said that while the idea was a good one, the authorities should have given a grace period for the eventual phasing out of the product, which would have enabled investors to get involved in the production of chicken. He said the opportunity is now available for Guyanese business persons to invest in the industry.
Ramsarran however warned of the pitfalls and risks involved. He said that the transportation of chicken from Georgetown is not feasible at this point in time because of the deplorable state of the road. “Chicken is a perishable, and the time it takes to travel to Lethem, would eat into the profits of the potential investors,” Ramsarran posited. “In addition, the cost of chicken will spiral thus preventing low-income earners, and no-income earners, from accessing a cheap form of protein,” Ramsarran continued. “This will entail the investment in refrigerated trucks. This cost will invariably be passed on to the consumer.”
Ramsarran pointed out that even if a person decides to get involved in rearing chickens, the cost of transporting feed and other items needed for the industry will be prohibitive. “Even if they do start to rear the chicks, ordinary folk will not be able to afford the prices because business is about profits,” Ramsarran said.
He said the RCCI had written to Minister of Commerce Manniran Prashad on the issue and a response was expected very soon. Meanwhile, “we have at least one month of chicken in stock, but after that…” Ramsarran said there would be problems. He said that residents were warned not to engage in panic buying as is the case at present, as word of the stoppage spread through the communities.
Some residents expressed the fear that there will be a return to the days of smuggling and a further increase in the price of the commodity. “Smuggling will definitely increase the price of the commodity because the smugglers will charge us for the risks they are required to take. But be warned, there will be no guarantee that the chicken acquired by this means will be wholesome and fit for human consumption, since there will be no inspection etc.,” Ramsarran said.
Ramsarran also posited that there may be a compromise where selected persons in Region Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo) will be allowed to import chicken once they acquire the necessary import licenses. “Even that is bothersome. A person will have to spend at least $100,000 in transportation and accommodation to acquire a $2,000 licence,” Ramsarran lamented. He said it would be better if the Ministry of Commerce sets up an office in Lethem to deal with licensing issues.
In speaking with Stabroek News, `Zoar’ said that there are many Hindus in Lethem and they do not eat beef, which is in abundance in the Rupununi. As a result, they depend on chicken as an alternative to fish which is a seasonal food in the Rupununi. She said too that the school-feeding programme will suffer a great setback in that the aim of the programme was to provide a balanced diet to the school children. “The schools will find it very difficult to find that balance without chicken,” ‘Zoar’ said.
This recent restriction follows that on alcoholic beverages and cooking oil. Residents are fearful that the ban will be extended to other essential items like cooking gas and other food items that will be too costly to be brought from Georgetown.
