MANAGING DIRECTOR OF SHEIK LISHA LIMITED, CHURCHILL AZARD AKALOO, SUGGESTED TO THE GOVERNMENT TO REMOVE THE 25% DUTIES HIS COMPANY HAS TO PAY SO HE CAN PROVIDE FLOUR TO THE NATIONAL COMMUNITY FOR 25% LESS THE CURRENT COST.
• AKALOO MADE THE STATEMENT ON FRIDAY 24TH JUNE, 2022, AT A FUNCTION AT HIS COMPANY AT #44 THE SOUTHERN MAIN ROAD, WARRENVILLE.
• HE ASKED THE MINISTER OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY PAULA GOPEE-SCOON, THROUGH HER PERMANENT SECRETARY MS FRANCES SEIGNORET (PRONOUNCED– FRANCIS SENOR-RAY), TO REDUCE AND OR REMOVE THE DUTY ON IMPORTED FLOUR SO THAT HIS COMPANY CAN PROVIDE AFFORDABLE COMMODITIES TO HOUSEHOLDS IN THESE HARSH ECONOMIC TIMES.
• IN RESPONSE, THE PS PROMISED TO RELAY AKALOO’S SUGGESTION AND/OR CONCERNS TO MINISTER GOPEE-SCOON SOON AS SHE RETURNED TO OFFICE.
BUT WAIT!!! 51% OF NFM’S SHARES ARE OWNED BY THE GOVERNMENT AND 49% ARE PUBLICLY TRADED, AND YET STILL THE COMPANY DOES NOT PAY DUTY OR OTHER TAXES ON MATERIAL (WHEAT) IT IMPORTS IN ORDER TO PRODUCE FLOUR.
• WHY SHEIK LISHA, AN IMPORTER OF FLOUR WHICH IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT HOUSEHOLD COMMODITY IN THESE TIMES, HAS TO PAY 25% ON DUTY WHEN THEIR FLOUR HAS BEEN AND REMAINS MUCH CHEAPER THAN NFM?
• WHY HASN’T SHEIK LISHA, AND/OR ANY OTHER COMPANY WHICH MAY IMPORT MATERIAL REGARDING THE PRODUCTION OF FLOUR, BEEN GIVEN A TAX BREAK JUST AS THE NATIONAL FLOUR MILLS?
• WHAT MAKES THE NATIONAL FLOUR MILLS SO SPECIAL TO BE GIVEN SUCH BENEFITS WHEN THEIR FLOUR IS MORE EXPENSIVE AND THE COMPANY IS NOT ENTIRELY OWNED BY THE STATE?
ON WEDNESDAY, THE NATIONAL FLOUR MILLS INCREASED THEIR FLOUR BETWEEN 28% (RETAIL) AND 33% (WHOLESALE).
• ONE DAY LATER, NURTIMIX ANNOUNCED AN INCREASE IN ITS FLOUR BETWEEN 10% AND 33% WITH EFFECT FROM JUNE, 27TH. ALSO, THE KISS BAKING COMPANY ANNOUNCED THAT FROM JULY 1ST, ITS BREAD WILL INCREASE BY 11%.
MEANWHILE, THE CONSUMER AFFAIRS DIVISION, EARLIER TODAY, ISSUED A STATEMENT CONDEMNING SEVERAL SUPERMARKETS AND RETAILERS OF FLOUR FOR INCREASING THEIR PRICES BEFORE THE DATE IT WAS SUPPOSED TO TAKE EFFECT.
• THOUGH THE MINISTRY DID NOT NAME THE PRODUCER OF THE PARTICULAR BRAND OF FLOUR, IT WAS ACTUALLY REFERRING TO FLOUR PRODUCED BY NURTIMIX WHO ANNOUNCED ITS PRICE INCREASE WILL TAKE EFFECT FROM MONDAY 27TH JUNE, 2022.
