BAKERS SAY THEY WANT TO CONTROL PRICE OF BREAD
Apr 15, 2008
Yesterday government issued a release announcing the new controlled price
for flour. The new prices showed an increase of 41%. The release also
stated that though the price of flours went up the price of a 16 ounce pack
of bread will remain at $1.25. The sliced bread will remain at $1.50.
However it was rumored that bakers had decided to increase their price on
all other breads. President of the Belize Bakers' Association Andre Perez
said this is not so.
Andre Perez, President Bakers' Association
"For the moment there was a decision, and agreement because they were
advising us that this was going to happen soon, noh. We were able to
strike a deal with the government and Belize Mills in that they well
continue selling the price of flour to us at the old price and that is only
on the Bebe Agua, the hundred pound, that is use to produce the pack bread
and that is because that is the only one that is price controlled and
therefore we cannot raise the price on that one because there is an
agreement with government. We went a bit further to agree also that we
will keep the price of our other breads at the same price that is for hot
dog bread, burger bread, and like buns like the pack bread. However this
is pending on the other shipment of grains that Belize Mills should get by
next week."
Perez said that they will be meeting with Belize Mills and the government
to further discuss the price of bread. Perez said they are suggesting that
the controlled price for bread be removed.
Andre Perez, President Bakers' Association
"Our solution is the price regime for the bread be removed completely.
That is not to say that we want to assault the nation in jacking up the
prices of bread completely, that is not so. We can act responsible and we
can come up with a good price for the pack of bread through healthy
competition with one another, you know. Time has proved that one time when
the control price was removed, I think in the 90s, the price did not go up
and it was because of healthy competition among each other. So we are
saying that if we can determine prices we can start a different level where
the bakers are free to do what they want with the slice bread as far as we
are concerned."
As part of the agreement between the government, bakers and Belize Mills is
that bakers will be sold the one hundred pound sack of bread at the old
price until the new shipment of wheat comes into the country which may or
may not have an effect on the price. Perez says that because of the
shortage of flour Belize Mill will ration the amount of flour bakers get.
Andre Perez, President Bakers' Association
"The only that we are getting the old price is on the Bebe Agua and I will
go further in saying that we are being rationed, like a quota. In other
words the Mill knows how much every baker consumes every week and we can't
increase on that. If we want more then Belize Mills is saying that they
will sell at the new prices; we have a limit as well and that is something
that has been imposed on us. "
Arturo Cantun, Love FM
"Mr. Perez, flour is one factor that determines the price of the bread, the
last time I spoke with you said that in the future the price of bread will
have to go up. Is that future near?"
Andre Perez, President Bakers' Association
"That is imminent, it is something that is happening and there is nothing
that we can do about it, its in the making. We have another meeting
pending with the association and in that meeting we expect to discuss the
price of bread. But going back to what you asked, one person asked me how
we are dealing with the hit that we are taking and I corrected in saying
that it is not a hit but a major blow that we are taking. We need to
sensitize the public that it is not only flour that is used to make bread.
Butane has been going up; shortening is another ingredient that keeps going
up. Some eight years ago, not even eight years ago, some five years ago
the price for shortening was at $38 to $40 and today it stands way up at
$75 to $80. Its massive, it's something we are taking a hit."
Story at
http://www.lovefm.com/ndisplay.php?nid=7662