Latest update December 3rd, 2024 1:00 AM

Guyana's largest selling daily and New York's most popular weekly

Latest News

Guyana seeks expanded regime of pre-exportation testing

May 06, 2009 News

“I have made it clear that the paddy would not be allowed to return because the contamination took place out of Guyana, and I would not want to violate our systems here.”
This is according to Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud, who in an invited comment, said that the rice shipped from Guyana was currently being fumigated in Colombia and that one of Guyana’s plant health specialists is observing the process.
In light of the incident, Persaud requested his technical officers to discuss with foreign agencies, an expansion of the regime of pre-exportation testing.
This is in order to ensure the credibility of rice leaving local shores.
“There is already some testing to meet export standards…The fact still remains that the fungus claimed to be found by the Colombians does exist in our temperature.”
This newspaper has learnt that the paddy was taken to the same port as the contaminated shipments from the USA. Persaud recently told this newspaper that he had called for an independent investigation.
According to the Minister, he has since written to the Agriculture Minister of Colombia lodging a mild protest, given that the information available to him suggests that the rice may have been contaminated on arrival in Colombia, hence the independent investigation.
According to Persaud, it is always difficult breaking into a new market and he has informed the Colombians that Guyana was willing to explore the available avenues to resolve the issue.
Saj Rice Mills (SRM) shipped the rice from Guyana.
When the news first broke, the local Agriculture Minister had said, “I have directed the GRDB [Guyana Rice Development Board] to investigate the matter, notwithstanding the company’s pronouncement that the shipment was free of any impurities or fungi when it left Guyana. I have asked that the Colombians, US and the Latin American Rice Research system (FLAR) be involved.”
The Reuters News Agency had reported that 1,064 tonnes of rice would be returned to Guyana following the discovery of a fungus, which corresponds to the Tilletia type.
The same fungus, Reuters said, was detected in 5,493 tons of rice originating from the United States.
Shipments have also been barred from Ecuador, Venezuela and Peru.
Fearing a possible spread of the fungus in their territory, Colombia immediately ordered that the rice be transported back to its source.
Colombia had the shipment aboard a vessel docked at Port Barranquilla in an attempt to isolate what the report described as an “identified exotic disease.”
The procedures were executed to avoid possible contamination of Colombia’s cereals.
“All the agricultural imports that enter Colombia are put under a process of quality control,” Reuters said.
The fungus identified during this process corresponds to the Tilletia sort plague – a type of fungi which target cereals, and controlling such fungi would increase production costs, and products would not be marketable if contaminated.

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | December, 2nd, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

 

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Rana five-for and enterprising batting put Bangladesh in the driver’s seat

Rana five-for and enterprising batting put Bangladesh in the...

Dec 03, 2024

ESPNcricinfo – Bangladesh’s counter-attacking batting and accurate fast bowling gave them their best day on this West Indies tour so far. At stumps on the third day of the Jamaica Test,...
Read More
ANSA McAL on board with inaugural National Futsal C/ship

ANSA McAL on board with inaugural National Futsal...

Dec 03, 2024

GBF unveils squad for 2024 FIBA 3×3 AmeriCup in Puerto Rico

GBF unveils squad for 2024 FIBA 3×3 AmeriCup...

Dec 03, 2024

Someash Boyer benefits from Project “Cricket Gear for young and promising cricketers in Guyana”

Someash Boyer benefits from Project “Cricket...

Dec 03, 2024

Several athletes and coaches aiming to benefit from India’s JAIN University scholarships

Several athletes and coaches aiming to benefit...

Dec 03, 2024

GAPLF congratulates Dominic Tyrell for taking Sportsman of the Year runner-up  

GAPLF congratulates Dominic Tyrell for taking...

Dec 03, 2024

Features/Columnists

  • Morally Right. Legally wrong

    …Peeping Tom Morally Right. Legally wrong Kaieteur News- The situation concerning the disputed parliamentary seat held... more

Publisher’s Note

Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.

Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]