Headlines:
| Gov’t stays out of imported patty row |
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| Thursday, 25 June 2009 | |
 The Government has adopted a hands-off approach to the
row over the importation and sale of foreign made patties in direct competition
with locally made supplies.On Wednesday, the Jamaica Manufacturer's Association (JMA) called for the Government's intervention to determine why patties are being imported despite adequate supplies of the pastry locally. JMA President Omar Azan said he had informed the Bureau of Standards, Commerce Minister Karl Samuda and Prime Minister Bruce Golding of the practice. But the Government says its hands are tied. The Commerce Minister says there is nothing that can be done to prevent foreign made patties from coming into the country as open trade rules allow for the free importation of goods. "The Government cannot intervene because we can't on the one hand complain that trade is not progressing freely within the CARICOM region and at the same time object to the sale of patties from extra-regional sources. What we are very careful to ensure is that all appropriate duties and all appropriate tests are conducted to ensure that the quality of the product coming in is satisfactory and of a very high standard," Mr. Samuda said. |