FOOD PRICE COMMITTEE IS ELECTION GIMMICK

THE Government is facing stinging criticisms of barefaced election gimmickry with the appointment of a Food Security and Food Prices Committee.

Cabinet’s decision to set up a bloated committee on the eve of the general election comes after the Government presided over staggering increases in the cost of food over the past nine years.

The prices of food staples have skyrocketed by more than 60 per cent during the administration of Dr. Keith Rowley.

Along with the high cost of living is the ever-escalating food import bill and declining local agricultural sector.

The annual cost of imported food has leapfrogged from $4 billion in 2015 to $7.3 billion.

The Government awarded some of the 74,000 acres of former Caroni (1975) lands for home construction by party cronies.

Arable lands have also been leased for the erection of warehouses and franchise stores.

The Government has not taken any measures to improve food production to meet the mandate of the Caricom Food Plan of a 25 per cent reduction in imports by next year.

Guyana, Barbados and other regional territories are reporting increased yields in several food items.

The soaring cost of food essentials has led to a crisis in poverty and malnutrition, with many vulnerable citizens unable to properly feed their families.

There are no meaningful consumer protection measures, leaving purchasers vulnerable to exploitation.

“Shrinkflation,” the process of selling a smaller version of an item at the current price, has also become prevalent.

Social and economic experts have reported on the devastating effects of high food prices along with the loss of jobs and virtual wage freeze.

Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley recently dismissed reports of a steep poverty in the country.

But surveys conducted by the ruling People’s National Movement (PNM) revealed that the issue of food prices is of prime concern of the electorate.

Many consumers are seeing the committee’s appointment as a ruse to assure the country that action has been taken on food production and prices.

Apart from questions about the worthiness of the committee, there are queries about its chair Nirmalla Debysingh.

Debysingh is CEO of National Agricultural Marketing and Development Corporation (NAMDEVCO), which in March attempted to double the fees of vendors at the Norris Deonarine Wholesale Market at Macoya.

NAMDEVCO backed down under pressure from farmers and others.

The increased fees would have resulted in higher food costs to consumers.

This is particularly ironic for Debysingh in her position as chair of the committee.

The committee includes Nigel Grimes, who was chair of Caroni Green Ltd., in addition to serving as a technical advisor to the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands and Fisheries.

Critics say that Grimes’ track record at the Caroni company raises serious doubts about whether he could be part of a successful exercise to lower food prices.

There are no farmers on the 14-member committee.

There are representatives of public and private sector organisations, but no one who tills the soil and has first-hand knowledge of daily challenges and seasonal problems, such as floods.

The Supermarkets Association is represented on the committee.

Earlier this year, the Ministry of Trade and Industry appealed to supermarket owners to pass on the benefits of decreased food prices to consumers.