We're talking about the three containers of Guyanese Rice bring brought in by importer Jack Charles. On Friday a release from the Belize Agro productive Sector questioned Charles's motives - accusing him of undermining local producers just to make a profit.

Today, Charles answered in his own press release. He says he's not trying to wipe out the local producers. Charles's release says quote, "My objective is to import only 20% of the total rice consumed in the country, and (I) certainly don't have any interest in creating an import monopoly…. This will…serve as a check and balance on price of Rice in the local market." Charles also notes the failings of the Agroproductive sector and the Ministry of Agriculture, who in April had committed to come up with a formula for cheaper rice within 1 month. Charles notes, quote, "8 months have since passed and we had not seen any changes as promised and the prices remain the same." And then adds, quote, "My cost of rice is 0.52 cents a pound, just like the (Belize Marketing Board) when they imported over 3 million pound of same Guyanese rice last year, which were intentionally repacked and sold in Circle R bags for a gouging price of 0.94 cents a pound and made a profit of over 1.4 million dollars." He concludes, quite, acidly, quote, "Unlike certain people I have a conscience and I choose to make 15% markup and supply rice at 0.60 cents, for retailers (to) sell for 0.69 cents a pound. And I will continue to sell same price for next 2 years." End quote.

After all this he concludes, "If producers are willing to sell their 1st grade rice for a similar price of 0.60 cents a pound (as it was in 2011) I may be willing to reconsider my position."