— issue resolved, Guyana servicing new contract

OVER 30 containers of rice which were rejected by Panama last year could have been switched, said General Manager of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) during a press conference on Tuesday.

Reports had surfaced last year that rice was rejected between the months of August and September 2018. The containers upon inspection by Panamanian authorities found that it had contained parboiled rice instead of white rice, which was requested.
Hassan confirmed that parboiled rice was indeed shipped instead of white rice, noting that an investigation was conducted, but there was no wrongdoing on the part of the GRDB since all procedures were followed.

The rice which belonged to Rice Miller Feyaadul Hakh, of Cane Grove, was inspected by the GRDB prior to loading.
“We saw the rice being loaded at the facility…it meant that the rice was switched because we saw white rice being packaged and parboiled was shipped,” said Hassan.

Despite the challenges, he said Guyana was able to service the 2018 contract and has started to service the 2019 market. Hassan said there was no injury to the US5.2 million market which Guyana has in Panama.
Hack, who was represented by Attorney-at-law K. A. Juman Yassin, apologised for the shipment of parboiled rice.

“Hack has exported rice on many occasions without problems…he has accepted responsibility for the mix up of the shipment,” said Yassin; he added that the owner of the mill was concerned that there was some negligence involved, but as the owner he accepted the responsibility.

Hack ensured the Panamanian market that there will be stricter measures in place to ensure that such a mix up does not recur.
Head of the Guyana Rice Millers Association (GRMA), Rajendra Persaud, also agreed that the issue with Panama was cleared and said there could not have been any financial benefit for shipping parboiled rice instead of white rice.

Some 66,206 tonnes of rice was shipped to Panama in 2018, a major increase from the 40,043 tonnes which was shipped in 2016.