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With a view to ensuring that Guyana improves its access to the Jamaica market, and at the same time reduce the delays and other related issues of the rice trade, Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud on Friday led a delegation from Guyana to meet with Jamaican Minister of Investment, Industry and Commerce, Carl Samuda, and other key stakeholders of Jamaica. This is according to a press release from the Ministry of Agriculture yesterday. The first meeting was held among the two ministers, importers, and exporters of rice from Guyana and Jamaica, and other officials of Guyana and Jamaica.
The meeting commenced with Minister Samuda outlining some of the problems in Jamaica, and these were supply uncertainty, price increases and some unreliable suppliers.

Minister Persaud, in his opening remarks, reported on recent delays due to the unseasonal rainy weather and on the pricing of rice in Guyana which is based on demand and supply. He mentioned that his ministry and the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) are willing to take the specific cases of unreliability of supply and deal with those companies.
In closing, he gave his assurance of Guyana’s continued support to the CARICOM rice market and more so, the largest buyer, Jamaica.
The meeting agreed that there should be communication between GRDB and the Jamaican Ministry of Investment Industry and Commerce, so that the “irritancy” of the rice trade can be addressed in a timely manner. The meeting closed with both sides assuring each other of continued support in the
“spirit” of the Single Market.

The release said that the second meeting was held with the Customs Authority of Jamaica, and the major concern was the establishment of a “pre-clearance facility”.
The Customs Authority indicated that this is possible and that a mechanism can be put in place. They urged that a ‘paper trail’ be established and proposed that a MOU between the Ministry of Agriculture of Guyana and the Ministry of Investment Industry and Commerce of Jamaica be put in place for the facilitation.
At this meeting, it was also urged that the two countries increase their vigilance of all trade between the two countries,” the press release said.

The third meeting was with the Jamaica Bureau of Standards (JBS). It was agreed that a draft agreement between GRDB and the JBS would be developed, so that GRDB will do the sampling and testing in Guyana, on behalf of the JBS, the ministry said in its release.
This will ensure the fast-tracking of the inspection process on arrival of Guyana’s rice in Jamaica. It was further agreed that GRDB will assist JBS in the training of its officials in the testing of rice.

Meanwhile, the ministry said, despite heavy rains threatening rice in vulnerable areas, and its harvesting, the target for the first crop will not be significantly affected and all markets will be satisfied.