At a press conference on Saturday, Soodesh Callichurn, Minister of Commerce, spoke at length about the edible oil situation and stated that the State Trading Corporation has conducted its second tender for 600,000. “We have gotten a reduced price as compared to the first fiscal. We expect the prices of other brands, marketed by other importers, to come down as there is a development in the global market,” he said.
Soodesh Callichurn said that he believes things should change in the coming days and weeks and added that in the meantime, the price of Smatch brand oil remains unchanged at Rs 75. He said the price of the oil has fallen on the world market, especially as Egypt as well as Indonesia have resumed exports. In addition, he said, “Ukraine has been able to send some oil to Africa” and insisted that “we expect prices to fall in a few weeks“. The Minister of Commerce also said that the demands for a reduction of fuel prices will be studied by the Petroleum Pricing Committee, who will meet before 18 September. Since the price of oil has fallen on the world market, there have been many calls for a reduction in prices at the pump.
Minister Callichurn recalled that some time ago, economists had been talking about double-digit inflation. Moreover, the government has been far-sighted and has applied a maximum mark-up on several products. This has had a positive effect, even if the international prices of some products continue to rise. However, he concedes that it is unfortunate that some people think that the government is behind the price increases. But this is not the case. Moreover, we are monitoring certain prices of products and we continue to follow the situation closely,” the Trade Minister pointed out.
Minister Callichurn pointed out that on flour alone, the government is giving a subsidy of 84% or Rs 1.4 billion. “Now we have decided to give them another boost, by helping them on diesel and electricity, to contain the price of bread.” But following their delegates’ meeting on Thursday, the bakers have indicated that they accept the government’s proposal and the price of bread will be maintained at Rs 2.60.
For his part, Arts and Heritage Minister Avinash Teeluck, spoke on the political front. He spoke about the resignation of Kalaynee Jugoo and announced that soon there will be others. The PTR is a party with no direction, no vision and it is losing momentum. Just recently, the MMM has seen an erosion of its membership, now it is the turn of the PTR.
It is important to note that these two MSM ministers, on behalf of the government, expressed their sympathies to the Royal Family and the British people, while congratulating King Charles on his new position.
