Stakeholders rap protesters over attack on F&DD President

…call for phyto-sanitary enforcement, antidumping legislation

Stakeholders in the manufacturing and business sector have come out in support of the Head of the Guyana Food and Drug Department (G-FDD) Marlon Cole, in

wake of protests against his decision to ban the importation of certain products into the country.

On Wednesday last, a group of employees from Suria Manufacturing along with other local importers staged picketing exercises outside of the Ministry of the Presidency and the Public Health Ministry, accusing the G-FDD Head of corruption and demanded his removal.

Suria Manufacturing Head Frank Sanichara alleged that Cole is deliberately and unjustifiably preventing products from coming into the country and that several lawsuits have already been filed against him.

But the Guyana Manufacturing Services Association (GMSA) and Chairman of the Trade and Investments Committee of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) Ramesh Dookhoo both contended that the G-FDD is finally doing its job regarding the upholding of the law when it comes to certifying and labelling of imports.

Both entities view the protest actions as malicious and expressed that disgruntled parties should revert to the courts if they feel they were wronged by decisions made by the G-FDD.

During an interview with Guyana Times recently, Dookhoo explained that Cole is rightly conducting his functions as G-FDD Head and lauded him for his strident efforts.

“I believe that’s a very important department and the Terms of Reference of that department is to ensure that food is properly labelled and our laws speak very loudly to those standards that has to be met in food labelling and food certification. I believe that the current head of the Food and Drug Department is simply trying to do his job. Over many years, we have not had such a dynamic FDD Head,” he stated.

Similarly, the GMSA in a statement on Saturday expressed concerns over the accusations being made against the head of the regulatory body, noting that it supports all legal action being taken by the G-FDD and urged all parties not to impede or interfere with the work of the entity, which is an important body under the law.

Phyto-sanitary, anti-dumping

Dookhoo, who is also the President of the Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce, explained that the work of the G-FDD is even more important in the absence of key structures such as antidumping legislation and phyto-sanitary enforcements or veterinary laboratories.

“What do we do? Do we allow all and sundry to enter Guyana at the will of whoever wants to import into Guyana I believe the answer is no. In the rest of the Caribbean, these structures are set up and you have to meet the requirement of those countries to export to those countries,” he stressed, explaining that the G-FDD should be allowed to conduct its functions unimpeded, especially in the interest of having standard products available on the markets to consumers.

These sentiments were also echoed by the GMSA.

A Veterinary Laboratory provides diagnostic medical testing for infectious agents, toxins, and other causes of disease in animal diagnostic samples submitted by veterinary practitioners serving animal owners, public officials associated with public health, law or wildlife management, and scientists with collaborative research projects.

Phyto-sanitary enforcements are to ensure imports that are plant related is free of specified pests and/or diseases. Anti-dumping legislation are laws that prohibit the sale of goods at prices that are less than the fair market price.

Dookhoo said he is aware that Government is in discussions with stakeholders on the introduction of these measures and noted that such structures would be very much welcomed in Guyana.