PARAMARIBO, Suriname (CMC):
Jamaica has relaxed its objection to the importation of butter from Suriname, resolving a long trade dispute between both countries.
Trade Minister Clifford Marica told Parliament last Friday that Jamaican authorities had finally granted a company permission there to import the products that were barred from entering the Jamaican market.
"We have treated the butter issues as a very serious matter. This is the way we deal with our position in the CARICOM market, because this is also our own market," the minister said.
Kingston had objected to the importation of certain Surinamese butter and margarine brands claiming that Suriname is not known to be a dairy-producing country.
Suriname last raised the issue at the meeting of the Caribbean Community's (CARICOM) Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) in November 2006, in Georgetown, Guyana, where officials crafted a resolution to the issue.
Parimaribo said Jamaica had no reason to reject the Surinamese products since the same items were being exported to other CARICOM member-states.
Minister Marica said Jamaica's relaxation of its position was a significant step for Suriname to get a foothold in the CARICOM market and further integration in the regional economy.
Kingston was boycotting the brands Anchor Spreadable Butter and Tasty Margarine, produced under licence of a Jamaican company, Fonterra World Brands. Jamaica maintained the refusal, claiming that these products have milk fat as an ingredient and Suriname is unknown as a dairy-producing country.
After the Margarine and Fats Factory on May 31, 2005 exported a container with butter and margarine to Jamaica, the shipment was detained for over three months at the port and eventually released.
In November 2005, Fronterra sought permission again to import the same products from Suriname, but the request was rejected by the Jamaican authorities.
According to Surinamese government officials and managers of the Surinamese firm, several letters were sent to the Jamaican authorities to clarify the matter, but to no avail.
Eventually at the last COTED meeting CARICOM officials promised to take actions in order to come to a satisfactory solution for both parties.
