AG distances himself from ‘rice monopoly’ controversy

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The country’s Attorney General Steadroy “Cutie” Benjamin has disassociated himself from a sugar and rice monopoly business proposal between a private entity and the Central Marketing Corporation (CMC).
The AG said, yesterday, that his office is not being used and will not be used to push the negotiations as he decided to keep out of it.
He also said he was not part of the discussions in the Cabinet nor the negotiations between BOAD Aggregates Limited and CMC.
Benjamin said his son is the one advising the investors.
This was confirmed in documents that Damien Benjamin is the legal advisor for the company.
Damien Benjamin also declined to comment on the matter, saying this would be a breach of the expected confidentiality and legal privilege between an attorney and client.
OBSERVER media tried to secure details about the company and its directors but the documents were not immediately available from the Intellectual Property Office.
According to documents, BOAD has proposed to supply CMC with a minimum of 100 tonnes of rice each month as well as 100 tonnes of sugar.
However, CMC expressed concern about the proposal, saying it had serious negative political implications for the administration in face of the request for a monopoly.
The proposal has been placed on hold amidst heightened concern from the public.

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