Government, rejecting claims that there is ban on chicken-imports from Brazil to Lethem, on Tuesday said importers must be certified to ply the trade across the border.

 

"There is no ban in place to restrict the importation of poultry produce from Brazil," the Agriculture Ministry told Demerara Waves.

 

The Agriculture Ministry explained that, in addition to permission from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, prospective importers need to apply to the Ministry of Agriculture for phytosanitary certificates to import poultry meat but no such application has been received to date.

 

"Such imports are subjected to meeting sanitary requirements and fulfilling GRA’s (Guyana Revenue Authority) requirements for trade which includes paying the relevant duty," added the Ministry of Agriculture.

 

There is one major chicken importer and several small importers of that meat in Lethem. Residents in Lethem and other nearby areas of Region Nine ( Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo) consume about 7,200 kilogrammes of chicken monthly.

 

Chairman of the Rupununi Chamber of Commerce, Alfred Ramsarran told Demerara Waves that earlier on Tuesday he was advised by Industry and Commerce Minister, Manniram Prashad that chicken-importation from Brazil has been regularized to the July 14 arrangement.

 

"The importation of chicken to Lethem will be reverted to its original position to be consumed in the region but not to go outside the region," said Ramsarran. He said normally no import-duties are applied on the meat.

 

Ramsarran said he was unaware that importers were required to obtain phytosanitary certificates. "We have got to follow-up on that and see what implications that would have," he said.

 

The head of the chamber called for the decentralization of the granting of import-licenses to prevent would-be importers from spending huge sums of money on transportation to travel to Georgetown to obtain the document.

 

However, farmers and other entrepreneurs in Region Nine are encouraged to pursue business opportunities associated with poultry production. The Ministry of Agriculture has been working closely with such farmers to development their business venture and will be willing to support large scale poultry enterprises which will create jobs and other opportunities for farmers and other residents in Region Nine.

Guyana and Brazil are signatories to a Land Transportation agreement that provides for the movement of cargo and passengers across the Takatu River bridge and through the earthen Lethem-to-Linden road.