Government of Jamaica yesterday sought to assure the public that there would be no increase in the price of cement imported from Cuba, despite Caribbean Cement Company Ltd.'s (CCCL) recent announcement that it would be increasing its charges.
Phillip Paulwell, Minister of Industry, Technology, Energy and Commerce, said that, following discussions with CCCL, the company agreed the cement imported from Cuba would remain at the existing price.
"Under the new arrangement, cement imported from Cuba by the Government of Jamaica and distributed by the Caribbean Cement Company Limited will not be subject to the recently announced 15 per cent price increase per bag," read a statement from the Bureau of Standards Jamaica. "In addition, future cement imports from Cuba, subject to any variation in shipping costs, will not attract the increased price."
Negotiations afoot
Minister Paulwell said he was in negotiation with the Cuban authorities to package 40,000 tonnes of the bulk cement earmarked for shipment to Jamaica. He said this bagged cement will serve to ensure the availability of of cement to the medium and small-scale consumers of the product.
The Commerce Minister said he was appealing to the Hardware Merchants Association, as well as all distributors and retailers
of cement, to ensure that the imported product is sold at the pre-existing price.
Mr. Paulwell told The Gleaner yesterday that he would be meeting with the hardware merchants today to ensure that they are aware of appropriate pricing for Cuban cement.
