END OF SHORTAGE OF BASIC COMMODITIES IN SIGHT
by Linda Straker

ST GEORGE,  CMC, March 14, 2008 -- The importer of brown sugar and rice says it has been given assurances that the current shortage of the two commodities should come to an end by the end of March.

General Manager of the Marketing and National Importing Board Fitzroy James said that the board, which is the main supplier of the basic commodities in Grenada, had to negotiate contracts with new suppliers and that he anticipated supplies would reach normal levels within the next three weeks.

"The shortage is not as a result of financial difficulties of the Board but as a result of problems being experienced by the suppliers," he said.

The island has been experiencing a shortage of sugar since last November.  The matter was resolved temporarily in late December. The scarcity in rice began in January.

"In the case of brown sugar, our supplier in Guyana is now supplying mainly to the European market; while, in the case of rice, our supplier had a problem with the rice plant.  However, let me assure the public that based on new agreements reached, there will not be a shortage once we receive our order on time.

"We will be having a trial shipment of brown sugar coming from Columbia by Friday, and once we are satisfied with the quality we will enter into a long term contract for fortnightly supplies.  We are also receiving a trial shipment from Brazil and again once the quality is good, we will enter into long term arrangements," said James.

He further explained that the board was arranging to have rice imported from Trinidad instead of Guyana.