Finance Minister Dr. Nigel Clarke
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Dr. Nigel Clarke
The prices for chicken neck and back are expected to stabilise following the implementation of a new import regime on April 1.
Changes will be made to the issuing of chicken neck and back import permits following a probe involving the Ministry of Agriculture.
Finance Minister Dr. Nigel Clarke on Tuesday afternoon told the House of Representatives that Cabinet has accepted recommendations to improve the importation system.
He said while the prices of chicken back on the world market increased by 15 to 20 per cent last year, the new policy "will bring normalcy and stability to the supply and demand while ensuring that the small backyard farmers won't be left out."
Last year, the Integrity Commission recommended in a report that the Agriculture Ministry halt the issuing of chicken neck and back import permits under current arrangements.
The report hinted at duty evasion and instances of lack of transparency and fairness in the issuing of permits.
'Inaccuracies'
The Finance Minister, who was closing the budget debate on Tuesday, ripped into his Opposition counterpart's budget presentation which claimed that food prices have been rising under the JLP administration.
Dr. Clarke said Julian Robinson's speech was riddled with inaccuracies on the movement in the cost of basic commodities.
The Finance Minister also criticised the Opposition Spokesman for omitting to mention the four per cent decline in the price of counter flour during his presentation.
"Now look how much Jamaicans eat dumpling. Average dumpling price is down in 2021 as compared with 2016 and him leave dat out," Dr. Clarke quipped.
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