GCCI slams retailers for alarming increase in expired, counterfeit goods flooding local market

…calls for urgent crackdown

The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) on Saturday expressed concerns over the practice of non-compliance to Guyana’s laws and regulations by retailers and supermarkets—particularly as it relates to quality and standards of goods being provided to consumers and the flouting of labour and tax laws.
According to the Chamber, there has been an alarming increase in the presence of counterfeit, expired, and inappropriately labelled goods in the market, which are not only clear violations of lawful standards but also a health hazard to consumers.
In this regard, the GCCI called on the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS and the Government Analyst Food and Drug Department (GA-FDD) to ensure that an investigation is conducted and any product that is not within the guidelines be removed from shelves and prohibited for sale.
Further, the GCCI urged the Customs, Excise and Trade Operations of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) to ensure that all goods being imported meet the regulatory requirements.
Notably too, the Chamber said, is the need for a closer examination of adherence to taxation laws by these businesses and to ensure the equal application of the rule of law for all enterprises operating in this industry.
In the same vein, the Chamber called for labour laws to be respected. In fact, the GCCI called on the Labour Ministry to ensure that these businesses are in compliance with the Labour Act, Occupational Health & Safety (OSH) Act and other pertinent Labour laws.
Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo had several weeks ago issued a similar call for equal application of the laws to all businesses, but ruled out banning the establishment of Chinese supermarkets.
His comment came weeks after concerns were raised about Chinese-owned businesses not adhering to regulations and that their ability to attract more customers is putting Guyanese-owned businesses at a disadvantage.
During one of his weekly press briefings in October, the Vice President reiterated that Government is working towards stricter enforcement of regulations in order to create a level playing field for both types of business.
“Some of the Chinese entities, if you go in, they sell everything under the sun without the requisite permits; and [Guyanese are] held accountable for getting permits and (are) limited by the regulatory bodies in what they can sell; so, they claim a disadvantage. The people who protesting, they’re right about it. I would have done that myself,” he said at the time.
As such, Jagdeo related, regulatory bodies have been instructed to enforce the law “uniformly”, in order to ensure that foreign businesses pay their taxes and adhere to local laws.
Responding to calls for Government to stop the establishment of Chinese businesses within communities, Jagdeo noted that such an action would be against foreign policy.
“It would not only be against WTO (World Trade Organisation), but it would run you into a very difficult foreign policy situation…if the idea is to stop people based on nationality, it will be impossible to do so. What if China says, ‘We’re not going to sell Guyana any of our goods and services anymore because you stopped our people from settling’? You cannot discriminate against people based on nationality, but you can ensure compliance with the country’s laws,” Jagdeo told news reporters. (G1)