SANTO DOMINGO – Key retail trade organizations in the Dominican Republic have publicly endorsed Agriculture Minister Francisco Oliverio Espaillat, refuting circulating allegations about shortages and unjustified price surges in chicken and egg products. The unified stance emerged from a high-level meeting convened on Monday, as detailed in an official release from the Ministry of Agriculture.
Retail representatives confirmed that market supplies of poultry and eggs have now stabilized, attributing this balance to strategic interventions deployed by the current government. They emphasized that availability has normalized across distribution channels, contradicting widespread rumors of scarcity.
Apolinar Leyba Jr., a prominent voice in the retail sector, issued a stark warning against what he described as disinformation campaigns. He asserted that certain interest groups are deliberately propagating false narratives of product shortages to engineer artificial market distortions and undermine price stability for their own benefit.
In a show of sector-wide solidarity, Ricardo Rosario, who heads the National Central Union of Unified Retailers, reiterated the industry’s dedication to collaborative engagement with the Ministry of Agriculture. This partnership aims to safeguard the consistent supply and equitable pricing of essential food commodities for consumers. The meeting drew participation from multiple federations representing retailers and merchants, all pledging ongoing cooperation to preserve market equilibrium and prevent speculative practices.