Dear Editor
PERMIT me to highlight a major issue that sits right under our noses and the majority of our citizens are either careless or clueless as to its importance. Over the last three months or so, I have noticed an increase in press releases coming from the Government Analyst-Food & Drug Department (GA-FDD) in relation to non- compliant importers, falsely labelled products, products with incorrect nutrition content or no source of its origin. The releases from the GA-FDD have revealed a number of simple truths that should not go unnoticed, 1) It clearly shows that under the previous administration, importers had grown accustomed to conducting business in a lawless manner and 2) We have all probably consumed foods that were not necessarily what the label said it was or contained.
On the first point mentioned, I would want to believe that persons who were importing products under the previous administration are fully knowledgeable of the systems and procedures necessary to import goods into the country, but then again if you dwell in a lawless environment for too long lawlessness may become your second nature. I remember most recently the issue with Sueria Manufacturing which is owned by Frank Sanichara and the GA-FDD over alleged fake documents being used to import a product. According to the release from the GA-FDD after contacting authorities overseas, they had no knowledge of any such item being shipped to Guyana nor did they create the document that was being used by Sueria. The question to be asked then is where exactly did the product come from and who produced it? In my humble opinion, a lot of these products are spurious or goods that did not reach the necessary standards to go on the market and they somehow landed on the black market and ended up in countries like Guyana.
On the second point, I must say I’m very pleased with the way in which the GA-FDD has been functioning since the change of administration. Such a department is critical in any country as they hold the key to the health and well-being of the citizenry. I am pleased that the department now can carry out its functions effectively and take into consideration the health of the people as can easily be noticed in the releases as well. I do hope that persons are paying attention to the various items that were recently granted no entry into the country, hence, if you see any you should report it immediately. I close by saying it is a sad reality when distributors have come to the decision that the dollar is more important than the health and well-being of their fellow countrymen and women. Be careful what you consume, ensure it is genuine. I do hope that a stricter penalty will be put in place for those found guilty of importing fake, misleading, or products with defective labelling.
Regards
Clayon F. Halley