Prime Minister Gaston Browne is urging the Layer Farmers Association to reverse its decision to raise egg prices in Antigua and Barbuda, calling the move “opportunistic wickedness” and urging empathy for the poor.
As of September 16, 2024, egg prices will increase from $12.00 to $14.00 per dozen, and a case will rise from $360.00 to $420.00.
The association attributes the hike to rising input costs.
However, Browne warned that if the association doesn’t back down, the government may open the egg market to imports, aiming to lower prices.
The last price increase occurred in July 2022.
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EC$14.00 or USD $5.28 for a dozen eggs is just ridiculous. Cannot see how that price can be justified. I guess poor people would not be eating eggs again.
Why don’t you start with the largest supermarket in Antigua? Tell them to stop overpricing their goods. Gouging the public with their miss marked prices (lower posted price on shelfs) and charging more at the register.
Egg Cartel! How stupid is this? You’re the finance minister, put price control in place for commodities. Of course, you must first do something to reduce import duties,then ensure that the savings is passed on to consumers. You were told this DAWG, so your childish rantings are as pathetic as you.
Why oh why did people vote this disaster back into office to destroy Antigua and Barbuda?
Import duties/tariffs are the main reason for food prices on the island. Get rid of them and find a way to level out the prices. Raise port fees, landing fees, whatever. How about taxing alcohol and tobacco?
Well and at the rate the the UPP is collapsing, they will be voted right back in.
Cartel definition: an association of manufacturers or suppliers with the purpose of maintaining prices at a high level and restricting competition.
You all are not speaking from a position of fact. Almost 100 percent of the egg market is supplied by local egg farmers. The market has been protected by a 40 percent tariff on imported eggs. All feed and chicks and other inputs attract no duties and taxes. Government subsidizes water by 25 percent.
The market is also protected by a license requirement which is only extended where the local farmers are unable to meet the demand.
Egg prices must remain affordable to all consumers especially the poor and vulnerable.
When he gonna stop his accolade..OVERSEAS FRIENDS???
Is not Christmas yet… ham animals still to be growth.
“Cartel definition: an association of manufacturers or suppliers with the purpose of maintaining prices at a high level and restricting competition.”
First of Mr. PM I agree we speak out of a position of ignorance. We do not have all the facts. But having said that, I am a staunch believer of “Free Market Forces”. protectionism always leads to these situation. We have seen it in the developed world. American Farmers, Canadian Farmers, European Farmers are all enjoying huge subsidies and protection. Actually the European Farmers are getting penalized for over production of certain crops. And that as you know is regulated by country. And then we have the stupid Spanish tradition, where they have a tomato war on the street taking thousands of tons of tomatoes and starting to fight. https://www.latomatinatours.com/
I don’t think there is anything more disgusting then that.
https://www.politico.eu/article/europe-awaits-last-ditch-effort-to-save-its-milk-farms-commission-overproduction/
What is happening to farmers in the Netherlands?
Angered by low prices for their produce, rising costs, cheap imports and environmental regulations imposed by the European Union, farmers have blocked roads with their tractors and set fires to disrupt traffic since last week.5 Feb 2024
I mean the European food policy is scandalous when you think of all the poor and hungry people in places like certain parts of Africa.
I believe is free market as I have said and competition is in the best interest of the consumer and government should always be on the guard for those that want to form cartels in order to control and manipulate. If their are no ‘anti-cartel’ laws it is about time government goes to parliament to enact those laws. Because surely this reeked of cartel forming.
I would tell them to open their books to demonstrate to you their plight.
I remember the Gas Station Owners once tried that stunt with you. Until you asked them to show their books. Then suddenly non of them where able to do so.
But in the Ministry of Finance you should have enough technical persons to provide you with feasibility studies for starting an egg farm. IRD should have some of them their financial statement to start with. Unless you want to tell me that they do not provide IRD with Financial Statement. If that is the case then we have an even bigger problem.
Perhaps you can put Dwayne George to work on that project.
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