Dr Christopher Tufton, agriculture minister, has maintained his stance that the decision to import chicken parts was to protect consumers.

The minister called a press conference at the ministry's head office on Hope Road, St Andrew, yesterday, to clarify his decision, which has been met with fierce criticism by poultry farmers, to import 625,000 kilograms of leg quarters for the holidays.

"The Government was concerned that any shortage of chicken for the period would lead to additional price increases," he said.

Based on figures supplied by major poultry growers, the minister said there was a projected shortfall of 815,179 kilograms of birds for November and this month.

No hike for chicken

However, Dr Keith Amiel, manager of corporate affairs at Caribbean Broilers, told The Gleaner that the price of chicken meat would not have spiked.

Amiel said, based on world trends, inputs such as grains were trending down in prices, hence the price of chicken meat would at least be stabilised.

Christopher Levy, senior vice-president for poultry operations at Jamaica Broilers Group, the island's leading supplier of chicken meat, said he preferred not to comment on speculations of expected price increases.

A comparison of figures of the number of leg quarters imported since 1997 showed a drop this year by 200,000 kilograms. Last year, 825,000 kilograms was imported.

New companies, along with traditional entities, were granted permits for importing leg quarters.

At the meeting, Tufton named some 17 companies of the 25 which were given permits.

All companies received no more than the equivalent of one container (25,000 kilograms) of import volume.

Companies granted import licences

Spanish Grain Store

Chris Rayon Limited

Master Mac Limited

National Meats and Food

Distributors Limited

Triple M Limited

Bratton Limited

Transtrading Limited

Lilian Limited and Branlue Ltd

Roma Import and Distributor

Company Limited,

Papine Meats and More

The Butchers Table Limited

Pinecrest Meats Distributors Ltd

East Coast Fish and Meats Ltd

Target Imports Limited

Lanvintar Limited

St Ann Logistics

Services Limited