DESPITE temporarily suspending clearance of rice entering Jamaica, authorities will allow clearance of the product, but only those shipped from Guyana or Suriname. On Tuesday, following reports of the distribution of ‘plastic rice’ in a sister CARICOM country,the Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA) announced that it would temporarily cease clearance of rice at all ports of entry.
According to an investigation done by Mathrubhumi News, there is a large-scale production of rice made from plastic that is being shipped worldwide.
A major Asian giant was reported to have been one of the countries of origin. In this country, the rice is made by mixing potatoes, sweet potatoes and plastic. The rice stays hard even after being cooked and the soup forms a plastic sheath on its layer.
And with reports emerging in Jamaica, that the product has found its way on shelves in shops and supermarkets, authorities ceased clearance of all rice.
However, according to the Jamaica Observer, the country’s Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Karl Samuda, has said that it is very important that Jamaicans are not denied this staple food.
As such, he announced that clearance will be given for rice imported from Guyana and Suriname.
Samuda was quoted as saying that the two countries are considered part of “our” market and a part of CARICOM and that Government has never had a reason to doubt either of them.
Presently, the English-speaking CARICOM country imports rice from Trinidad and Tobago, the United States (U.S.), Guyana, Suriname, Thailand, China, Vietnam, and India.
According to head of the Guyana Rice Producers Association (GRPA), Dharamkumar Seeraj, Guyana ships on average 47,000 tonnes of rice to Jamaica annually.
He said efforts are being made to increase this amount, and based on trends it is likely to increase to over 50,000 tonnes.
He further noted that Guyana should welcome the announcement and confidence expressed by the Jamaican authorities, even while the Government of Guyana seeks to engage them on the possibility of providing more rice to that country to reduce a reccurrence of fake rice entering their markets.