The Ministry of Business yesterday said that consultations were held with stakeholders in January this year on the importation of frozen chicken.
Its statement came amid concerns expressed in some quarters that the ministry had issued important licences to the possible detriment of local producers.
In the statement, the ministry said that following a number of misleading statements in the local media, the most recent contained in an editorial appearing in the Guyana Times edition of October 22nd 2016, the ministry was notifying the public that consultations were held with industry stakeholders prior to the issuing of any import licences to chicken importers for 2016.
It said that these consultations resulted in a meeting being held in the Boardroom of the Ministry of Business on January 8th 2016 where it was agreed that import licences for frozen chicken would be issued in two batches for the year: one for the first half and another for the second half of the year.
It was also agreed during that meeting that licences would be issued for the importation of 950,000 pounds of chicken for the first half of 2016, the ministry said.
The statement added that the following excerpt from the Guyana Times editorial is inconsistent with what actually took place and therefore misleading:
“Based on some prior investigation, we understand that the responsible Governmental officials only met with the local producers after the licences had been issued. Some local producers have queried exactly how 19 companies were granted licenses by the Government without any consultation with the local industry.”
A list of names of those who attended the January 8th meeting is available from the Ministry, the release said.
On September 30, 2016 Stabroek News reported that the Guyana Poultry Association (GPA) had requested a meeting with the Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin over the granting of licences by the government for the importation of a large amount of chicken.
David Fernandes, a member of the GPA had told Stabroek News then that he had “no clue” why the government would grant those licences because there was no shortage of chicken.
Fernandes, who is also the Assistant Managing Director of Bounty Farm Ltd, said “normally the government would ask us in October if there is adequate supplies and we tell them whether there is a shortage and then they make a decision.”
He was surprised that even though the ministry did not make contact with the GPA, it went ahead and granted the licences.
Nothing further has been heard from the GPA on the meeting.
– ministry
The Ministry of Business yesterday said that consultations were held with stakeholders in January this year on the importation of frozen chicken.
Its statement came amid concerns expressed in some quarters that the ministry had issued important licences to the possible detriment of local producers.
In the statement, the ministry said that following a number of misleading statements in the local media, the most recent contained in an editorial appearing in the Guyana Times edition of October 22nd 2016, the ministry was notifying the public that consultations were held with industry stakeholders prior to the issuing of any import licences to chicken importers for 2016.
It said that these consultations resulted in a meeting being held in the Boardroom of the Ministry of Business on January 8th 2016 where it was agreed that import licences for frozen chicken would be issued in two batches for the year: one for the first half and another for the second half of the year.
It was also agreed during that meeting that licences would be issued for the importation of 950,000 pounds of chicken for the first half of 2016, the ministry said.
The statement added that the following excerpt from the Guyana Times editorial is inconsistent with what actually took place and therefore misleading:
“Based on some prior investigation, we understand that the responsible Governmental officials only met with the local producers after the licences had been issued. Some local producers have queried exactly how 19 companies were granted licenses by the Government without any consultation with the local industry.”
A list of names of those who attended the January 8th meeting is available from the Ministry, the release said.
On September 30, 2016 Stabroek News reported that the Guyana Poultry Association (GPA) had requested a meeting with the Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin over the granting of licences by the government for the importation of a large amount of chicken.
David Fernandes, a member of the GPA had told Stabroek News then that he had “no clue” why the government would grant those licences because there was no shortage of chicken.
Fernandes, who is also the Assistant Managing Director of Bounty Farm Ltd, said “normally the government would ask us in October if there is adequate supplies and we tell them whether there is a shortage and then they make a decision.”
He was surprised that even though the ministry did not make contact with the GPA, it went ahead and granted the licences.
Nothing further has been heard from the GPA on the meeting.
