Like other countries in the Caribbean, Guyana has not been spared the wrath of rising food prices and shortages of some basic items. So steep are the prices in some countries, that desperate efforts are being made to alleviate shortages and at least bring food prices of some of the items within manageable proportion and make them affordable to consumers.

While other countries are trying to find different ways and means to ease the burden on their people, in Guyana our government is not left behind and has with immediate effect removed all administrative restrictions on the importation of flour, a staple food in this country.

This is a welcome move by the government which we believe will help in a long way to bring down the price of the commodity on the local market, thus easing some of the burdens of high prices the people face.

But we have some unscrupulous people in our midst. Although the government has withdrawn the 16 percent VAT on flour, the benefits of the removal have not been filtered down to the consumers.

Flour and flour products are used every day in the Guyanese household in one way or another, and the government must be commended for its bold action in dropping the licencing regime for the importation of flour.

Guyanese are aware that the non-requirement of a licence for the importation of flour will result in loss of revenue, and praise the government for taking the initiative which will lead to the lowering of prices for flour and flour products.

The resoluteness of the government in taking the decision was further given credence when in a recent interview with reporters, Commerce Minister, Manniram Prashad said even if it (government) loses revenue by taking the measure, it was a sacrifice the government was prepared to make in the interest of the welfare of citizens.

Guyanese remember only too well the days of cassava flour when the then PNC regime had slapped bans on several basic food items including flour, and do not want a return of those days when “the devil took the hindmost.”

In the Twin-Island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago price hikes have already been announced for flour. The National Flour Mill in that country in announcing the increases said the measure was taken in light of continuing trend of price increases internationally for raw materials and other external factors.

The Guyanese people are grateful that the government here is prepared to take off some of the shocks caused by external factors at the expense of the local economy, and view this gesture as an act in good faith.

The government has now thrown out the challenge and there are no more “red tapes.”

It is hoped that individual importers and companies would rise to the occasion and seize the opportunity offered to them for the importation of flour which will hopefully lead to lowering of prices.