– Guyana to host International Rice Conference The Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce of Jamaica, Mr Karl Samuda,Wholesale NBA Jerseys, will be in Guyana along with rice importers from Jamaica to have a round-table discussion on rice importation,Cheap Authentic Jerseys, President Bharrat Jagdeo has said.The Jamaican Minister will be in the country for the upcoming International Rice Conference, which will be hosted at the International Conference Center on November 7.President Bharrat JagdeoDuring a press conference at State House on Saturday,NHL Jerseys From China, the Head of State said that,wholesale jerseys, following much reported controversy on whether or not Jamaica will be purchasing the full quota of rice from Guyana, he called the minister and suggested that he visits Guyana.“I asked him to bring in some of the people who import our rice, so that we can sit around the table and try to resolve all the outstanding issues…So I am pleased that he will be coming here shortly,” President Jagdeo said.The upcoming conference will be attended by both local and overseas experts, who will be speaking on various aspects of the rice industry, including historical and global issues affecting the industry, as well as the future of the sector, among other issues.Some of the participants at this conference will be from Colombia and the United States. They would be addressing technology in the sector.Scientists from North America, India and Europe will make presentations,Cheap Jerseys Store, one of which would be on parboiling of rice.During the conference, a magazine would be launched to mark the 100th anniversary of rice exportation.A rice recipe book showcasing 101 ways to cook rice will also be launched during the conference.Meanwhile, on Saturday, a ‘Rice Fest’ will be hosted at the Guyana National Stadium.This event would be an annual feature to ‘celebrate the contribution of rice to the economy’.Just over a month ago, Jamaica had announced that it will not be purchasing the full quota of rice from Guyana this year, as it was given two waivers of the Common External Tariff.Jamaica does not have any legal obligation to purchase rice from Guyana.During bilateral discourses with Jamaica on the rice issue earlier in the year, it was decided that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) should be signed to concretise that country’s rice purchase commitment.However, that agreement is yet to be concluded,Wholesale Jerseys 2018, since Minister Samuda does not have the legal jurisdiction to give such a guarantee.The Attorney General of Jamaica has indicated that the rice importation issue is a ‘private sector matter’ and that Samuda has no authority whatsoever to guarantee anything.As such, Samuda has since presented Guyana with a ‘Best Endeavour’ agreement, which states that he will do all in his power to ensure that the committed quota is imported.Guyana, however, is yet to sign on to that agreement.