Petrina Francis, Staff Reporter
Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller enjoys the company of baby Christie-Jo Riley before the start of the Labour Day 2006 'Jamaica's Beauty - Our Duty' thanksgiving service at Highholborn Street Church of God in Kingston, yesterday. - RUDOLPH BROWN/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
PRIME MINISTER Portia Simpson Miller on Saturday night warned importers of cement that the benefits of lower prices for the product, arising from the duty waiver, were to be passed on to consumers.
According to Mrs. Simpson Miller, cement has been short in the industry for a number of months and the chain of supply has been broken.
"I expect that any price benefits that all the people who import will receive will be passed on to the consumer," she said while addressing Arc Systems Limited 10th anniversary gala.
Last Tuesday, Phillip Paulwell, Minister of Industry, Technology, Energy and Commerce, announced the temporary removal of the common external tariff of 15 per cent over the next three months.
Mrs. Simpson Miller, however, sought to explain to the gathering the reasoning behind removing the tariff for one year.
"I was expecting the situation to normalise itself after the 25 per cent tariff reduction that was given on March 6. And when it was put to the Government that the importers were having difficulties in sourcing cement from overseas markets, the full duty was removed for three months." She noted that when she realised that it was still not working, she gave instructions for a one-year extension.
"We were aware of the impact that the construction industry has on all areas of business and the society and that is why we have remained fully connected to the issue and have been collaborating with the trade," she said.
PREPARATION FOR HURRICANE SEASON
Meanwhile, Senator Norman Horne, president and chief executive officer of Arc Systems, announced that his company would continue importing cement next month. He said Arc Systems began importing cement in 2000.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Simpson Miller urged the distributive trade to remain alert as the country approaches the hurricane season, which begins June 1. She stated that the Minister of Commerce met with the distributive sector recently to discuss supplies of basic commodities. Special focus, she said, was given to the availability of the range of supplies necessary in the event of a disaster.
