Rice Shortage In Barbados?

No sooner had the ink dry on the previous post where pointed questions where asked about our security of rice here on this island than when I was inform that today’s Sunday Sun have reported that some supermarkets have started to limit  the amount of rice customers could purchase. Well it was bound to happen sooner or later, right?.

Bajan Global Report blogging on “Jamaica To Import 30,000 Tonnes Of Rice To Prevent Shortfall  What About Barbados?” asked these questions,

1. Do we have any rice reserves on this fair island of ours?.
2. Are the importers increasing their orders to make up for the coming short fall?.
3. Do we have the warehouse space to store let’s say 10,000 tonnes of rice?.

Now we have at least 2 supermarkets – Channell Supermarket – Collymore Rock [formerly Budg Buy] and Popular Discount – Spooner’s Hill rationing rice. In Channell case, customers were limited to one bag of rice each whereas over at Popular, customers have a choice of either purchasing 2- 4kg bags or 1 – 20 pound bag per shopper.

But guess what, the larger supermarkets are still selling rice as usual!. Unusual right?,  since one would expect the bigger supermarkets to be the first to rationed rice. But wait! Who am I kidding!. The small man are always the first to suffer so why should it be any different now. If we are to go by the newpaper story a Channell female manager said “suppliers were limiting and rice scarce”.

Did the suppliers started limiting rice because of the anticipating shortage in the future or are we now in the throes of a shortage but the suppliers are allowing the larger supermarkets to stock up to look “good”, whilst limiting certain retailers?.

Then we have Lionel C Hill of Hill Milling - the leading local rice distributor and who packages rice for six different labels – Texana, Eagle, Indian Girl, Farmland, Ohio and Dallas – expressing delight on his bond being full.

Can we take it then that all is well with Hill and the Government? and exactly how much  tonnage of rice does the bond holds? and how long will it last?.

Questions that definitely need  answers.