Amid growing concerns over sudden increment in the price of long-grain parboiled rice with the impression that the commodity is scarce on the market, the government through the Ministry of Commerce has said that there is no rice shortage, and business owners are only increasing their price based on speculations. According to Ministry of Commerce officials, importers and rice dealers agreed that they [wholesalers] will pay $US25 on each bag as transportation and unloading fees. No reason I sell rice,” says Joseph Zinneh, a dealer in Red Light. Zinneh said it is true that rice is sold for $13.00 but because of the transportation and other fees, the price of rice will increase. “On Friday or Saturday rice will be in the market but the price will increase to $L2,600, $L2,800, or $L3,000 depending on expenses made on transportations, offloading, and uploading.” The dealer added.
