Karibee rice across Guyana has seen close to a 3% increase in prices and according to the Chairman of the Number 36 Village, Corentyne rice milling operation, Nand Persaud & Company, Rajendra Persaud this is mainly due to the increase in transportation and labour costs.
In Stabroek News’ series ‘How the cost of living is affecting people’ residents throughout the country have reported an increase in several commodities and often cite Karibee rice. Persaud yesterday confirmed this by saying that there has been about a 2.6% increase in the cost. Retailers appear to have added a significant mark-up.
According to Nand Persaud’s chairman, the hike has been a result mainly of the increase in transportation and labour costs, however, he stressed that the rice remains affordable to customers.
He said that in Brazil and Asia, the prices have increased an average of 25% noting, “We haven’t seen that in Guyana.”