ID :
80377
Thu, 09/17/2009 - 08:47
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/80377
The shortlink copeid
Soaring food prices, a cry for a help
By: Ali Attawhami and Abdul-Khaleq al-Hindi
Translated by: Fadwa al-Ariki Revised by: Mahmoud Assamiee
SANA'A, Sep. 16 (Saba) - The Holy Month of Ramadan, which witnesses an excessive in food consumption, additional burden added to poor Yemeni family.
Talking away from the family's income, the law
markets
and the repercussions of the global financial crisis in return have imposed its rules.
There is a big and full direction from the citizen to specific types of goods
required in Ramadan month. This thing leads to raise the prices of certain goods
especially
those which are needed in preparing Ramadan dishes.
Despite official statements affirming the formation of oversight committees for
markets, some citizens have the fear of the ineffectiveness of the monitoring
performance.
And accordingly, fearing from the ghost of prices' raising of some Ramadan's goods,
in addition to the fear of the monopoly of many traders for various goods needed in
the
Holly month.
One of the citizens, interviewed by al-Syasiah, said that the prices of this year
are rather good, even though he found a rising in the cooking oils' prices. "As a
result
of the global financial crisis, we suffer from a lack of savings so we try to
rationalize our expenditure to overcome it ", he added.
Another one explaining his idea by saying" During the three past days I have
observed during my shopping the goods prices varied from one market to the other,
especially
in some foodstuffs' prices such as rice and sugar mainly with the coming of Ramadan.
"The sugar price raised from YR 5000 to 7200, and in our country if the prices
raised
it would never fall down again", he said.
Another point of view of a Yemeni expatriate who returned to Sana'a to spend this
holy month with his relatives said, "The prices of this year are rather good in
comparison
with that of last year, and to me the prices are not that much high and the prices
of some goods got down. Honestly speaking, I am an expatriate and the exchange rate
differences
in which I get my salary in comparing with its exchanging in Yemen are suitable for
that I don't fell the price rises." The officer in the showroom of "City Mart"
market
gave a clear idea of the situation by saying "The prices are lower than the previous
year." According to him, the markets witness diminution these days as a result of
the
citizens' low income and purchasing power.
He also affirmed that the prices really got down this year and there were sales on
cooking oils, creme caramel, as well as drinks. "What about the sugar prices it is
due
to the global markets," he maintains. "Though the previous year's prices were much
higher than the current year, the average of turnout of the citizens decreased to 40
percent
in this year." According to the Household Budget Survey (HBS) for 2005-2006, carried
out by the Central Statistical Organization, citizen's expenditure disbursement on
food
and drinks on the family level in 1998 was about 54, 97 percent only food got 52,2.
Whereas in 2005-2006 the disbursement on food and drinks amounted 44,81percent, when
food recorded only 43,4 percent. The statistic showed that the disbursement
decreased from expenditure for 1998 one.
Economists refer the reason behind the low purchasing percentage of the citizen to
the weakness of government control over the markets, the unjustified traders'
manipulation
of price as well as taking the chances of some seasonal months as Ramadan and Shawal
to raise the prices in.
In this regard, the chairman of the Studies and Economic Media Center (SEMC)
Mustafa Nasr pointed out with regret "many traders take advantages of weak
government control
over markets to increase prices according to their personal moods.
"The soaring prices in Yemen goes in the opposite direction of the nature of the
global financial situation. "While the world suffers from depreciation due to the
global
financial crisis, our country's prices go higher, the thing which raises many
Questions," he said.
He noted that the increasing is not only in food price which is demanded in
Ramadan, but also including a lot of products like textiles and others. Continuing,
"It is clear
from what have been mentioned before, there is a chaos in the market and every
trader sells in the way that suits him. Add to this some traders' monopoly of some
main goods
worst the situation.
As a reason for that, Nasr asked to apply the legal texts and decisions related to
the declaration and unifying of goods price at least within the same city,
expressing
his regret on the market oversight committees which in turn need to be controlled
on. Nasr added "For that the traders don't pay much attention to these committees
and violating
the markets norm price with cold blood" "Not only weak role of oversight committees
makes the traders play with the prices but also the poor performance of local
councils'
supervision, which fails to notice the traders cheating in the prices the thing
which doubled the problem", according to Nasr.
He added "The Consumer Protection Association must work to carry out their role to
stop this mess. One can't imagine that the manipulating in prices reached also main
goods
prices such as milk and cooking oil beside other goods, though they are locally
produced and their prices are publicly known" For his part, the director of Industry
and Trade
office Khaled al-Khawlani made clear " The office has the right to intervene and
watch over only five main goods, wheat, sugar, rice, milk and flour, while the other
goods
prices are not subjected to certain prices." He further explained that during the
two past months, we noticed there is ascending in the sugar price, from YR 5000 to
7000.And
as a result of that, several committees for investigating the issue behind price
rises took purchasing invoices to assure sugar price at the global level as well as
knowing
the specified profit." Al-Khawlani continued, "Seven traders had been handed over to
the Industry and Trade persecution to take the necessity procedures.
Al-Khawlani affirmed that the office obligates traders todeclare the price on
goods, where the citizen himself will be the supervisor, declaring there is a list
in the law
issued recently,particularly two months ago, which now some shops started to apply it.
"The office daily inspects the five main goods' prices and if it witnesses any
ascending in the prices of each of these goods, then the committees' role begin to
ask for
the purchase invoices to see the reason behind the price rises. Accordingly and
after studying the causes of price increasing the necessity procedures will be
taken". Al-Khawlani
said, adding "The citizen plays a big role to discontinue prices' increasing by
informing against these traders".
Minister of Industry and Trade Yahya al-Mutawakil affirmed last Wednesday during
chairing a meeting for field monitoring teams from all concerned authorities, the
importance
of tightens up the monitoring process on all markets. He also gave emphasis to
follow-up the price volatility during Ramadan holly month as well as to take lawful
actions
with offending traders according to Industry and Trade's laws.
The Minister pointed out that the recent signs show the prices would not go up
during Ramadan according to the traders and food importers' words for having enough
food stocks
from different goods.
The Minister al-Mutawakil noted the markets monitoring should depend on
methodological and practical foundations, taking in consideration the public
interest, ensuring the
stability of commodity prices as well as providing goods with high quality and make
them in reach for consumers.
Al-Motawakel talked about the orders of the president of Supreme Judicial Council
(SJC) and the general attorney to general prosecutions and courts to apply
deterrent penalties
against offending traders who violate the law rules. The procedures would work as an
instrument to deter those traders and creating market equilibrium as well as
obligating
shops to follow the law texts formed to organize the economic activities, the
Minister made clear.
He also asked the supervisors to be patient and to work with high competency and
give more attention to bakeries, restaurants and shops selling Ramadan foodstuff,
affirming
the importance of the central operation room in Trade and Industry Ministry.
The Ministry along with all concerned oversight authorities will carry out an
intensive campaign on markets to face the unsystematic trade, cheating, and others
for seizing
goods of unknown source and are not according to the specifications.
The Minister called the local council in the secretariat of the capital and of all
the governorates' to carry their responsibilities in supporting the efforts of the
Trade
and Industry Ministry's offices in supervising markets.
He emphasized the media's role in spreading awareness for the consumers on their
rights and roles in correcting any irregularities existed in markets.
The Industry and Trade Minister urged the consumer to assert their rights in
getting high quality goods, confirm their source as well as reporting any expired
goods. He
concluded by saying, "The consumer is the goal and guarantee to success the
oversight process on markets."
Translated by: Fadwa al-Ariki Revised by: Mahmoud Assamiee
SANA'A, Sep. 16 (Saba) - The Holy Month of Ramadan, which witnesses an excessive in food consumption, additional burden added to poor Yemeni family.
Talking away from the family's income, the law
markets
and the repercussions of the global financial crisis in return have imposed its rules.
There is a big and full direction from the citizen to specific types of goods
required in Ramadan month. This thing leads to raise the prices of certain goods
especially
those which are needed in preparing Ramadan dishes.
Despite official statements affirming the formation of oversight committees for
markets, some citizens have the fear of the ineffectiveness of the monitoring
performance.
And accordingly, fearing from the ghost of prices' raising of some Ramadan's goods,
in addition to the fear of the monopoly of many traders for various goods needed in
the
Holly month.
One of the citizens, interviewed by al-Syasiah, said that the prices of this year
are rather good, even though he found a rising in the cooking oils' prices. "As a
result
of the global financial crisis, we suffer from a lack of savings so we try to
rationalize our expenditure to overcome it ", he added.
Another one explaining his idea by saying" During the three past days I have
observed during my shopping the goods prices varied from one market to the other,
especially
in some foodstuffs' prices such as rice and sugar mainly with the coming of Ramadan.
"The sugar price raised from YR 5000 to 7200, and in our country if the prices
raised
it would never fall down again", he said.
Another point of view of a Yemeni expatriate who returned to Sana'a to spend this
holy month with his relatives said, "The prices of this year are rather good in
comparison
with that of last year, and to me the prices are not that much high and the prices
of some goods got down. Honestly speaking, I am an expatriate and the exchange rate
differences
in which I get my salary in comparing with its exchanging in Yemen are suitable for
that I don't fell the price rises." The officer in the showroom of "City Mart"
market
gave a clear idea of the situation by saying "The prices are lower than the previous
year." According to him, the markets witness diminution these days as a result of
the
citizens' low income and purchasing power.
He also affirmed that the prices really got down this year and there were sales on
cooking oils, creme caramel, as well as drinks. "What about the sugar prices it is
due
to the global markets," he maintains. "Though the previous year's prices were much
higher than the current year, the average of turnout of the citizens decreased to 40
percent
in this year." According to the Household Budget Survey (HBS) for 2005-2006, carried
out by the Central Statistical Organization, citizen's expenditure disbursement on
food
and drinks on the family level in 1998 was about 54, 97 percent only food got 52,2.
Whereas in 2005-2006 the disbursement on food and drinks amounted 44,81percent, when
food recorded only 43,4 percent. The statistic showed that the disbursement
decreased from expenditure for 1998 one.
Economists refer the reason behind the low purchasing percentage of the citizen to
the weakness of government control over the markets, the unjustified traders'
manipulation
of price as well as taking the chances of some seasonal months as Ramadan and Shawal
to raise the prices in.
In this regard, the chairman of the Studies and Economic Media Center (SEMC)
Mustafa Nasr pointed out with regret "many traders take advantages of weak
government control
over markets to increase prices according to their personal moods.
"The soaring prices in Yemen goes in the opposite direction of the nature of the
global financial situation. "While the world suffers from depreciation due to the
global
financial crisis, our country's prices go higher, the thing which raises many
Questions," he said.
He noted that the increasing is not only in food price which is demanded in
Ramadan, but also including a lot of products like textiles and others. Continuing,
"It is clear
from what have been mentioned before, there is a chaos in the market and every
trader sells in the way that suits him. Add to this some traders' monopoly of some
main goods
worst the situation.
As a reason for that, Nasr asked to apply the legal texts and decisions related to
the declaration and unifying of goods price at least within the same city,
expressing
his regret on the market oversight committees which in turn need to be controlled
on. Nasr added "For that the traders don't pay much attention to these committees
and violating
the markets norm price with cold blood" "Not only weak role of oversight committees
makes the traders play with the prices but also the poor performance of local
councils'
supervision, which fails to notice the traders cheating in the prices the thing
which doubled the problem", according to Nasr.
He added "The Consumer Protection Association must work to carry out their role to
stop this mess. One can't imagine that the manipulating in prices reached also main
goods
prices such as milk and cooking oil beside other goods, though they are locally
produced and their prices are publicly known" For his part, the director of Industry
and Trade
office Khaled al-Khawlani made clear " The office has the right to intervene and
watch over only five main goods, wheat, sugar, rice, milk and flour, while the other
goods
prices are not subjected to certain prices." He further explained that during the
two past months, we noticed there is ascending in the sugar price, from YR 5000 to
7000.And
as a result of that, several committees for investigating the issue behind price
rises took purchasing invoices to assure sugar price at the global level as well as
knowing
the specified profit." Al-Khawlani continued, "Seven traders had been handed over to
the Industry and Trade persecution to take the necessity procedures.
Al-Khawlani affirmed that the office obligates traders todeclare the price on
goods, where the citizen himself will be the supervisor, declaring there is a list
in the law
issued recently,particularly two months ago, which now some shops started to apply it.
"The office daily inspects the five main goods' prices and if it witnesses any
ascending in the prices of each of these goods, then the committees' role begin to
ask for
the purchase invoices to see the reason behind the price rises. Accordingly and
after studying the causes of price increasing the necessity procedures will be
taken". Al-Khawlani
said, adding "The citizen plays a big role to discontinue prices' increasing by
informing against these traders".
Minister of Industry and Trade Yahya al-Mutawakil affirmed last Wednesday during
chairing a meeting for field monitoring teams from all concerned authorities, the
importance
of tightens up the monitoring process on all markets. He also gave emphasis to
follow-up the price volatility during Ramadan holly month as well as to take lawful
actions
with offending traders according to Industry and Trade's laws.
The Minister pointed out that the recent signs show the prices would not go up
during Ramadan according to the traders and food importers' words for having enough
food stocks
from different goods.
The Minister al-Mutawakil noted the markets monitoring should depend on
methodological and practical foundations, taking in consideration the public
interest, ensuring the
stability of commodity prices as well as providing goods with high quality and make
them in reach for consumers.
Al-Motawakel talked about the orders of the president of Supreme Judicial Council
(SJC) and the general attorney to general prosecutions and courts to apply
deterrent penalties
against offending traders who violate the law rules. The procedures would work as an
instrument to deter those traders and creating market equilibrium as well as
obligating
shops to follow the law texts formed to organize the economic activities, the
Minister made clear.
He also asked the supervisors to be patient and to work with high competency and
give more attention to bakeries, restaurants and shops selling Ramadan foodstuff,
affirming
the importance of the central operation room in Trade and Industry Ministry.
The Ministry along with all concerned oversight authorities will carry out an
intensive campaign on markets to face the unsystematic trade, cheating, and others
for seizing
goods of unknown source and are not according to the specifications.
The Minister called the local council in the secretariat of the capital and of all
the governorates' to carry their responsibilities in supporting the efforts of the
Trade
and Industry Ministry's offices in supervising markets.
He emphasized the media's role in spreading awareness for the consumers on their
rights and roles in correcting any irregularities existed in markets.
The Industry and Trade Minister urged the consumer to assert their rights in
getting high quality goods, confirm their source as well as reporting any expired
goods. He
concluded by saying, "The consumer is the goal and guarantee to success the
oversight process on markets."
