Press Statement
JOHN’S, Antigua and Barbuda – 26th September 2024…….The government of Antigua and Barbuda and Layer Farmers Association have agreed to work collaboratively to maintain the wholesale price of eggs at $13 per dozen for the next forty-five (45) days.
This decision was made in round robin meeting of the Cabinet on 25th September, during which members considered a report submitted by the Hon. Anthony Smith, Minister for Agriculture, Lands, Fisheries, and the Blue Economy, who is also the chairman of the Cabinet-appointed working group tasked with reviewing the proposed wholesale price increase on locally produced eggs.
Cabinet was informed by Minister Smith, that following a meeting, members of the working group, which included the Permanent Secretary, the Director of Agriculture, the Chief Veterinary Officer, and the Veterinary Officer on Poultry from the Ministry of Agriculture, along with representatives from the Layer Farmers Association, that an agreement was reached to work collaboratively to facilitate an in-depth review and analysis of the pricing of locally produced eggs.
As a result, Cabinet revisited its decision made on 18th September 2024, which stemmed from the Layer Farmers Association announcing an increase in the price of eggs per dozen to $18; and agreed as follows:
1. To reinstate the requirement for importers of eggs to pay all applicable duties and taxes; and
2. To reinstate the requirement for importers of eggs to obtain a licence from the Ministry of Trade.
Over the next forty-five (45) days, both the government and the Layer Farmers Association will collaborate on the development of a detailed plan to assist in reducing the cost of local egg production while improving the reliability and standards for the industry, which will be submitted for the consideration of Cabinet.
The government reaffirms its support and commitment to the establishment, sustainability and growth of indigenous businesses and to provide the framework necessary to enable all Antiguans and Barbudans to contribute to the economic development and prosperity of the state.
The new decision of the Cabinet takes effect from Friday 27th September 2024.
Prime Minister Gaston Browne said:
The Layer Association has reduced egg prices to $13, pending a study to determine their cost structure, how they could improve efficiency, and any additional intervention the government could make to assist them. Tariffs restored.
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You need to tell people that the layer association or any other small egg farmer has never sold eggs for $17.99. That was done by supermarkets that did so after buying the eggs from the farmers at WHOLESALE price.
Wholesale price could have been as lower as $10 and as high as $12.
Instead of going to the supermarket, ask around and find a small farmer and buy the egg straight off the farm….only option now.
I made the suggestion sometime ago of eliminating the middle man. perhaps their is no room for the middle man. And farmers should therefore become retailer. Which by the way many of them do already. What farmers should do is to come together as a sales and distribution network and ALL eggs that they produce should be sold to the Corporation. This Corporation then has the sole task to market and sell their eggs. But as I always say, Antiguans are bad minded and will cut each others throat. There will still be some that go behind their back and sell straight to the hotel and the supermarkets or to the end consumers. Farmers in Europe are strictly bounded to the terms of their corporation and produce and sell only to the corporation. They have stake in the corporation and therefore receive the benefit of buying feed and other input collectively. The corporation can also setup various sales outlets all over the country if they find the supermarkets are doing their own thing. And what they can also do is to rent fridge space in the supermarket or install their own fridge, and thereby determining their own selling price to the consumers. I’m not for all these concessions. In the end these people are in it for money, so why must my tax dollar help them to do that. Would they ever lay their book open in Parliament for all to see how much money they have made. I guess not. Therefore leave my taxes alone. Be creative find solutions to your problem. And Ms. Edwards, stop your crying.
The organic eggs sold at EPURICEAN for $18 a dozen. Will that price go up? I hope not. I changed to organic because the other eggs were covered in bacteria (dirty etc. ) from the local farms. Very unhealthy.
This is the problem with government …. I have no problems with the reinstatement of the duty. But government need not make burdensom documentation requirements . No reason for this other than to create obstacles. Stop adding beauracratic layers to business. This is what stifles economies .
2. To reinstate the requirement for importers of eggs to obtain a licence from the Ministry of Trade.
WHEN THE MINISTER SAY WAIVED, YOU WAIVED.
WHEN THE MINISTER SAY PAY , YOU PAY.
AH WAH KIND AH DOLLYHOUSE WE HAB YAH
Did somebody give Pringle the heads-up yesterday?? He has crawled out if the woodwork this morning, sized-to-fit boxing gloves and all, demanding on behalf of the Egg CARTEL that the Gaston Briwne administration do this and that to satisfy the Cartel…..or else!(implied). Now, Jamale??? The Cartel already clearly understands the position of the government on this matter of their arbitrary and unilateral increase in egg prices. They understood also that, if necessary, the weedy-weedy response that all faithful nationals were quite ready and willing to enforce!
Jamale’s “strong”, delayed UPP response is just one more comical gesture from a clearly irrelevant source. Jamale, my “big Black boy”, how much longer are you going to play the role of the comic puppet? Time to join the Boyz to Men Movement.
Meanwhile, Mr. PM, stand your ground on our behalf, please and thanks.
What is the report on the high prices at the supermarket and the high gas prices at the pump?. Man shall not live by cheap eggs alone but by cheap prices for goods in the supermarket and affordable gas prices
How many people are employed by the egg farmers? How much many changed hands for this deal? Is Gaston expanding his farm into eggs? Give us details.