Jamaica Peeved at Belize For Duty on Red Stripe Beer

[Zelda]

Trade takes U turn

By Linda Hutchinson-Jafar Special Correspondent Thursday, June 4 2009

A decision by Trinidad and Tobago to inspect the processing facilities of a Jamaican patties manufacturer has led to a verbal outburst in Kingston, accusing Port-of- Spain of imposing unfair trading practices and non-tariff barriers against the export of the product.

(snipped)

Jamaica has also had a problem with its red Stripe beer entering Belize.

(snipped)

Jamaica's prime minister Bruce Golding accused countries of raising issues over standards as a smoke screen to thwart trading in order to protect their own markets.

“And we don’t want to find as we have been finding that it is held up on the wharf not because there is so much concern about the standards, that is not the real reason. It is really a means of frustrating trade. And that is not something that we can tolerate,” Golding declared.

He referred to a punitive duty put in on Red Stripe beer by Belize, saying it was meant to protect their own domestic market. “We argue that if we have a single market, we have a single market and these obstacles must not be shown up,” Golding said.

http://www.newsday.co.tt/businessday/0,101433.html

oh,aren't we Barry Bowen's private little preserve ?

it seems that he's the only one allowed to produce and market beer in Belize, which is why we have so little choice in the local stores.

[DriveGoddess]

The last time I bought a Red Stripe it was overpriced and skunky.....it is a great beer and it is a shame that it gets taxed so much that no one can afford to enjoy it, thus the risk of acquiring a skunky beer from tienda cooler.

[Zelda]

Day of Reckoning for Belikin Beer

posted (June 19, 2009)


Beer drinkers who have a taste for Heineken and Red Stripe may be rejoicing tonight at the introduction of a bill that will make it so that those beers produced in the Caribbean will sell for just about the same price as a bottle of Belikin. It’s called the Customs and Excise Duties Amendment Bill of 2009 – which will eliminate the high tariffs traditionally charged on the imports. It’s all part of the treaty commitments made in the revised Treaty of Chaguaramas signed in 2001 that will allow common external tariff on all Caribbean produced goods across all borders in CARICOM. Government has been trying to avoid implementation because it will lose money and local producers of primarily of beer will not fare off so well on a level playing field. But Prime Minister Barrow today explained that his government stalled as much as it could until Jamaica threatened it with legal action.

http://7newsbelize.com/sstory.php?nid=14286

[~~Anita~~]

Woo-hoo......da Heine is ma beer of choice at home.
Though Beliken seems to be my beer of choice in Belize.

So where in the Caribbean is Heinekin produced??

.....and what about the "Guinness" that I see a fair amount of Belizeans drinking??

[Zelda]

Guinness is brewed at Bowen & Bowen, right here in Belize, under special license from the mothership.

Heineken is made in St. Lucia.

[Zelda]

the view from Jamaica:

Belize to liberate Jamaican beer

- Financial Gleaner - June 19, 2009

Belize has promised to unveil by next month's summit of CARICOM leaders a programme for dismantling its special tariff on imports, which Jamaica complains keeps its beer out of the Central American country.

Senior Jamaican trade officials were unavailable yesterday for comment on Belize's latest proposal for its Revenue Replacement Duty (RRD), a long-standing contentious matter within CARICOM, against which Jamaica's foreign trade minister, Dr Ken Baugh, hit out at last month's meeting in Guyana of the community's committee on trade and economic development (COTED).

Baugh had aired Jamaica's frustration over Belize's frequently missed deadlines for removing the special tariff, which can add up to nine per cent in additional duties on the cost of imports.

http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/ ... /reg1.html

[Miss Kenni]

Sorry to say, I don't think the 9% (if that's really all it is, which doesn't sound quite right) is going to do much for Red Stripe sales in BZ -- nor induce Bowen to drop the price on its brands. Kenni

[Zelda]

As the bill is proposed it is expected that the Heineken should be available for just about the same price as Belikin. That is because it is produced in St. Lucia – which is classed – like Belize as a less developed country in CARICOM. But it’s a different case for Red Stripe because it is produced in Jamaica – that will face one additional tax which should make it slightly more expensive then Belikin.

last para here: http://7newsbelize.com/sstory.php?nid=14286

IF the price for Heinie ends up being the SAME, I fully expect Barry to drop his price (just a smidge, but it'll be there)

[Miss Kenni]

IF the price for Heinie ends up being the SAME, I fully expect Barry to drop his price (just a smidge, but it'll be there)

Every little bit helps! Kenni

[Zelda]

Happy hour at the White House.

The much-awaited and much-discussed diplomatic gathering of President Obama, Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates, and Cambridge police officer James Crowley will take place tomorrow. The three men will raise their glasses of beer at the picnic table outside the Oval Office at 6 p.m., weather permitting. According to the White House, Crowley asked for Blue Moon beer, while Obama will be drinking Budweiser. "No details have been given about Mr Gates' beer of choice but, fortunately for the colour theme, he is reported to like Red Stripe, a Jamaican lager."

[~~Anita~~]

OMG.....not this thread AGAIN!!!!

I hope I don't get myself into trouble. The last time I saw my Doctor, at the time of reading this post, she said she was going on vacation to Jamaica, but that she was originally from St. Lucia.

My response......... "Oh, St Lucia, that's were the Heineken beer is brewed for the Carribean."

Wow....I feel like such an intellect.

[Zelda]

lol, sorry for dredging up this thread again, but 'Neeter, I couldn't resist...

I'm on Facebook, and have some rightwinger friends, one of whom posted yesterday for me to "JOIN" a group supporting the cop in the Gates case...

me, I'm reserving judgment, the whole thing stinks.

but I DO think it's kinda cool that Obama has them sit down for a beer together, hope that helps straighten it out.

[~~Anita~~]

Well, if they can have a beer and hopefully restrain themselves.......

......then I guess I can try and refrain from making a fool of myself.

[Zelda]

lol, join the crowd... I happily make a fool of myself every day!



oh, and I guess it's as DIFFICULT to find Red Stripe in DC as it is in Belize ??

looks like Gates had a Sam Adams instead...

Over Beers, No Apologies, but Plans to Have Lunch

By HELENE COOPER and ABBY GOODNOUGH - Published: July 30, 2009 - New York Times

WASHINGTON — They came, they met, they drank. They did not apologize.

(snipped)

¶Mr. Obama and Mr. Biden were in shirtsleeves; Sergeant Crowley and Professor Gates wore suits.

¶The four drank out of beer mugs. Mr. Obama had a Bud Lite, Sergeant Crowley had Blue Moon, Professor Gates drank Sam Adams Light and Mr. Biden, who does not drink, had a Buckler nonalcoholic beer. (Mr. Biden put a lime slice in his beer. Sergeant Crowley, for his part, kept with Blue Moon tradition and had a slice of orange in his drink.)

¶The four men munched peanuts and pretzels out of small silver bowls.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/31/us/po ... ?th&emc=th