CONSUMERS islandwide will be given temporary relief from inflation with Government’s announcement today of a 19-20 per cent price reduction in chicken parts (leg and breast quarters) between December 18 and 24. This is equivalent to a price cut of $46-54 per kilogramme.

Following agreement with producers and distributors to reduce their margins, Government said that the reduction was made to ensure that poor people have a cheaper source of protein during Christmas. Some 250,000 kilogrammes of chicken have been earmarked for islandwide distribution at the concessionary price.

Making the announcement today, industry minister Karl Samuda said that the two main processors, Jamaica Broilers and Caribbean Broilers, have promised adequate supplies to meet the increased demand at Christmas.

Agriculture minister Chris Tufton added that in past years the peak demand at Christmas had necessitated imports. But the approach taken this year, explained Tufton, apart from benefitting consumers, should also allow local farmers and producers to take off their excess stocks.