Rice price rises but government will punish profiteers

One bit of good news coming out of the press conference this afternoon is that rice will soon be back on grocery shelves. According to Minister of Economic Development, Erwin Contreras, today Cabinet has decided to grant a price increase to the Blue Creek farmers, while his ministry intends to crack down on those who are price gouging.

Erwin Contreras, Minister of Economic Development
“The whole sale price for rice is gonna be one dollar and fifteen cents in Belize City. Including handling and distribution, the retail price in Belize should be one dollar and thirty-one cents per pound, in San Pedro, one dollar and thirty-three cents per pound, Dangriga one dollar and thirty-two cents per pound and Punta Gorda one dollar and thirty-three cents per pound. San Ignacio is gonna be the Belize City price as well as in Orange Walk and Corozal. That is temporary. We have asked the Minister of Police along with the Minister of Agriculture to assist us, the consumer protection agency, to monitor the situation and we will be enforcing the law in regarding the control price. We know that a lot of unscrupulous business people have been taking advantage of the situation and we’ll definitely be handling this matter seriously.”

Contreras says the prices are only temporary and that they will be meeting with the farmers again, which may mean another rise in the price of rice.