Guyana's president announces measures to head off food crisis

[struggle4progress]

Source: Associated Press

Published: May 8, 2008

GEORGETOWN, Guyana: Guyana's president on Wednesday announced flour subsidies, cost-of-living allowances for civil servants and a series of other measures designed to head off a food crisis in the impoverished country.

The measures come a day before an opposition party rally in the capital, planned to protest rising food prices that are roiling the small nation on South America's north shoulder.

Chicken costs 50 percent more than it did last year, while rice prices have risen 80 percent in Guyana. U.N. officials have voiced alarm about global food prices, which have increased an average of 40 percent since mid-2007.

After meeting with bakers and food importers, President Bharrat Jagdeo said flour subsidies would take effect immediately, although he did not give details. He also said that civil servants earning less than US$250 (€162) a month will get an additional US$20 (€13) to help them cover rising food costs ...


Read more: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/05/08/business/CB-FIN-Guyana-Food-Prices.php