Dear Editor,

Paraquat is in the news once again. A growing chorus of US farmworker, health and environmental advocacy groups is demanding its ban in the US. They argue that research conducted by independent scientists provides abundant evidence of paraquat’s ability to cause Parkinson’s and other health dangers. They point to the fact that it is banned in the European Union, outlawed in the UK, where it is manufactured, and Switzerland, where its manufacturer, Sygnenta, is based; as well as in China, the home of Syngenta’s parent company.
The Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research submitted a petition to the EPA with 107,000 signatories calling for a ban, citing a plethora of supporting studies and evidence. And over 200 cases are winding their way through the US courts in support its ban.
Here in Guyana, The Caribbean Voice has been calling for its ban since 2014 because of the lethality it adds to agro chemicals and the fact that the majority of suicides are through ingestion of poison. As the government focuses on agri innovations and advancements, it’s time for safety to come to fore. We again appeal to the government and Agriculture Minister Mustapha, in particular, to institute a ban on paraquat. Contrary to what some posit, there are viable but safer alternatives to paraquat.
In this context, we also reiterate our call for widespread safe storage, usage and disposal of agro-chemicals training to be conducted within the farming community to enhance safety and reduce incidences of suicide. We also offer this workshop for wide dissemination: https://www.facebook.com/groups/abuseandsuicideprevention/permalink/1944135785786579. It’s an online workshop on first aid for those who have ingested agro and other poisons and was conducted by retired UWI toxicologist, Trinidad-based Dr. Verrol Simmons, at the behest of The Caribbean Voice. A caring government would want to make agriculture safer while contributing to reduction in suicide deaths.

Yours sincerely
Annan Boodram