Tufton

The Bruce Golding administration has dismissed talk that the recent wave of price increases, particularly in basic food items, occurred because of a change in government.

Agriculture Minister, Dr. Christopher Tufton, said yesterday that increases in the price of basic food items were associated with international forces, including the hike in the price of oil, wheat and corn.

Addressing journalists at the weekly post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House yesterday, Dr. Tufton castigated the Opposition People's National Party for indicating that the price hike came about because of the JLP Government.

"It's absolutely hypocrisy and it should be rejected by the Jamaican people. Ninety nine per cent of those price increases are directly linked to international events," he said.

"We don't grow wheat, we don't grow corn, we don't have oil and as a consequence every single input that speaks to food security in Jamaica, the vast majority at least depends on those critical inputs and those inputs have just gone through the roof."

Agri boost needed

He said there was the need for Jamaica to boost agriculture production to improve food security.

Meanwhile, the Agriculture Minister said that the country was not winning the fight against praedial larceny.

He said preliminary investigations show that enforcement of the receipt book system, introduced by the previous administration, was a major challenge.

"I don't get the impression that it is working," said Dr. Tufton, adding that the ministry was currently reviewing the system as it plans to make changes.