Industry and commerce minister, Karl Samuda, says the Government will be purchasing half of the 60,000 tonnes of rice that Guyana had set aside for the country.

Samuda told reporters yesterday that Jamaica does not currently have a heavy demand for rice. According to him, of the 30,000 tonnes to be imported, 3,600 is now en route to Jamaica.

On Monday, the Bharrat Jagdeo administration sought the intervention of the Jamaican Government in a purchase deal between rice growers and Jamaican importers.

Guyana's agriculture minister, Robert Persaud, said the move followed complaints by several exporters that they had thousands of tonnes of rice ready for shipment, which were not being taken up.

In the meantime, Samuda says the government has extended the suspension of the common external tariff (CET) on cement.

The suspension was imposed in 2006 to make it less costly to import the product, as the local manufacturer was not meeting the demand.

Unfulfilled obligations

"The importing community has indicated repeatedly that in every instance practically in the past, the cement company has not fulfilled its obligation to us in terms of supply," Samuda said. "At the moment, there isn't a shortage of cement, as the importers had brought in an adequate amount. However, they would not import if we had to apply any form of the CET."

The waiver was aimed at allowing 500,000 tonnes of cement to be shipped to Jamaica up to September 9.

The Barbados Government had objected to Jamaica's application for the waiver, even though it could not supply the amount needed.

But Samuda says the objection was withdrawn following talks between Prime Minister Bruce Golding and the Barbados Government.

Samuda also says his ministry has committed to importing about 240,000 tonnes of cement CET-free for the next six months.