KINGSTON, Jamaica – Industry and Commerce Minister Karl Samuda has left for Guyana for talks with the Bharrat Jagdeo government over plans by Jamaica to import rice
from outside the region.

Two weeks ago, Samuda announced that Kingston would seek a waiver of the Common External Tariff (CET) in order to import
30 000 tons of rice to satisfy local demand.

But that move has
been criticised by Guyana, which says it has enough
rice to export to its Caribbean neighbour.

"Understandably,
Guyana has objected
to our application for our suspension of the CET. We will be meeting and it is my intention to make my case and for them to understand the imperative nature of the problem which we face," Samuda said.

In the first quarter
of this year, Jamaica imported close to
19 000 tonnes of
rice from outside the
region after Guyana acknowledged that it was unable to supply the Jamaican market.

But with the latest development, linked
to a worldwide shortage
of the commodity, two large Jamaican importers have recently signed agreements to import rice from the United States. (CMC)