Jamaica ag minister: Don’t rush to seek pork imports

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  Andrea Gantz

  Derrick Kellier, Jamaican minister of agriculture, says not to overreact to reports of pork shortages and seek pork imports.

  From WATTAgNet:
  Derrick Kellier, the Jamaican minister of agriculture, labor and social security, is cautioning consumers and stakeholders in the food industry to not panic in the face of the reported shortages in the pork industry and to resist the urge to seek imported alternatives.
  “I wish to refer to the current situation as it relates to the reported shortages in the pork industry. While we appreciate that there may be current tightness in the market, we need to resist the urge to open (the) flood gates of importation and thereby destroying our hard earned achievements in the sector,” Kellier said.
  He issued the caution as he addressed the recent official launch of Jamaica’s ninth Agro-Park, the Sweet River Abattoir Agro-Park near Ferris Cross in Westmoreland.
  Kellier noted that the ministry will do its best to safeguard the gains made and will therefore be calling all stakeholders and industry players to a meeting next week to assess the situation and discuss the way forward.
  He further told participants at the launching ceremony of the abattoir, that the government was committed to providing the legislative framework to ensure the success of the abattoir, by making it mandatory that all commercial meat pass through certified abattoirs.