Ban on informal traders generate more food deprivation
Written by Anggie Martinez / Photos: Luis Gonzalez
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Ciudad Guayana .- The shortages are accentuated fears for Guyanese parents after the publication of the Gazette which prohibits the sale of staple food in informal trade, the latter being over regulated.
Recall that in the first article of the legal document issued on 28, prohibiting the sale by informal commerce, mobile or temporary, which does not meet the price set by the National Executive or the conditions of hygiene and cleanliness of food for human consumption.

Among the mothers interviewed in the vicinity of the Municipal Market Unare, Lourdes Acosta said that the peddlers was one of the few options I had to purchase products not available in the government and Pdval points and Mercal, or private supermarkets .

Acosta pointed out that in the past two weeks, managed only vegetable oil and margarine in informal areas but had to cancel three times the regulated price. For its part, Francisca Cardozo supported this information and said many of those engaged in this activity are of foreign origin.

In addition to the deepening of shortages, fear of consumers as Cardozo is that "now things will get worse because there are fewer places to get products and many take advantage to sell more expensive because they risk sanctions."

Leonardo Bermudez, meanwhile asked the institutions to apply more control over suppliers and distributors as in its view that sanctions could be applied to the hawkers will not solve the problem of scarcity.

To join forces

For its part, the regional coordinator of the Institute for Defense of People in Access to Goods and Services (Indepabis), Milton Bracamonte, said by telephone from Caracas, where he is presenting the results of audits to companies cold, Koma and delicacies La Fuente-Gazette that enables them greater authority to act.

"The Indepabis is working on product distribution and are present on the road to certify the origin and final destination to prevent fraud," Mr. Bracamonte.

The spokesman stressed that now have to work more expeditiously with the municipality to ensure the marketing of food staples, with emphasis on the outskirts of the municipal markets where it aims for the highest number of hawkers.

In this order, Thomas Azocar, director of Municipal Market Caroni, who already made a first step to try to control speculative selling which were linked with the Chinese Merchants Association.

Controls

Azocar said that two weeks ago we, held a meeting with wholesalers and retailers and agreed to prohibit sales to people who do not show a record trade or RIF, which led from his perception that the hawkers are lowering prices food.

A rigid control are also carrying the Board Comptroller of cold, Koma and delicacies La Fuente, where according to the regional representative Indepabis than natural persons are allowed to buy only retail.

To have a better tracking of transport, Bracamonte said it will strengthen the National Superintendent of Silos Farm Stores and Warehouses (SADA) to minimize the diversion of supplies.

Also the speakers agreed that inspections will be continued to ensure compliance with safety measures in the various establishments, especially those that sell meat, poultry and fish, so they asserted that officials of the various entities together with the National Guard , the task will visit the shops and in the first two opportunities to provide guidance, but the third will take "strong card."

New items

Traders polled shared that while waiting for some action against them, are afraid of losing their jobs. These José Bolivar, who expends in the vicinity of the designated market and said, "With the shortage of these restrictions was something I saw coming."

On the sanctions that could be submitted as to seize the goods or is applied fines, Bolívar explained that now will change its products as "like people need them, such as personal hygiene.

Like other merchants, argued that the chain of speculation starts from large distributors in particular those of Asian origin, while others acquire it directly into supermarkets private.

However, Azael Hung, the Chinese Merchants Association, argued that the technique of the peddlers is to bring family and friends and then sell up to five times its value creating in a "bad image."

Hung said, "people think that we who started with speculation but what we're doing is trying to solve the problem," therefore have been meeting with representatives of the Municipality of Caroni to establish strategies and used to invite the other merchants to come to the partnership and know the laws and regulations and thus avoid sanctions.

Only a month

According to what is stated in the Official Gazette No. 39 454 dated June 28, food, Government Resolution subjects are "rice table, precooked corn flour, wheat flour, pasta, beef, chicken, turkey, chicken, sheep, goats and pigs. "

Likewise, the canned sardines, tuna and mackerel, whole milk powder, pasteurized and sterilized long duration cheese, chicken eggs, soy milk, edible oils except olive oil, margarine, legumes, sugar, mayonnaise, tomato, ground coffee beans and salt.

Informal traders will have thirty (30) calendar days to bring their business to the new rules, otherwise the goods will be seized and put to the order of the community councils.