Georgetown: The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) say government should refrain from intervening and competing with companies in the importation of goods and services, a practice that could result in market distortion.
The Chamber said it will continue to monitor this development and hope that a speedy amicable resolution can be arrived at.
The entity noted that in wake of a dispute between the Ministry of Public Works and BK International, the largest supplier of stone in the country. Minister Robeson Benn noted that local suppliers, including BK are unable to meet the demand for stone in the country, thus government’s decision to import stones. Nevertheless, BK maintains that such is not fact and the company is capable of adequately supplying the local market.
GCCI, in its statement, urged both sides to reach a settlement that would ensure a win-win situation for not just the two parties at the center of the disagreement but for the infrastructure, construction and building sectors in Guyana.
“It is our principled and fundamental belief that if our local private sector companies can supply any goods or services adequately and which meets the necessary quality threshold then the government should not intervene and compete or cause market distortion by importing such goods and services. In this particular case, the Ministry of Public Works should concede the benefit of the doubt to BK International and take the company up on its stated public position that it can sufficiently supply the domestic market with stones if the requisite demands are made,” GCCI said.
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