THE Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) has expressed significant concern over the recent denial of entry for two containers of packaged milk products exported by Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) into Trinidad and Tobago.

Additionally, two containers of bottled flavored water products have been restricted from sale pending an exhaustive examination. These actions have raised alarms within the GMSA, especially in light of the principles of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, which mandates the free movement of goods and services among CARICOM member states.

The GMSA emphasised that such trade barriers undermine the collective efforts of CARICOM Heads of Government to achieve regional food security and reduce the regional food import bill by 25 per cent by 2025. These barriers are counterproductive to the goals of regional integration and equitable market access.

In response, the GMSA has joined DDL in calling for immediate intervention by the Government of Guyana and CARICOM leadership to address and resolve the issue with the Government of Trinidad and Tobago. The association stresses the importance of adhering to the regional integration framework, which promotes seamless trade within the CARICOM community.

In a detailed statement, DDL revealed that a virtual meeting with Trinidad and Tobago’s Ministry of Trade on May 13 aimed to understand the reasons behind the rejection of their milk exports and the process for approval of their products, DDL was informed that Trinidad and Tobago’s Animal Disease and Importation Act 2020 imposes stringent and onerous requirements on animal and animal-based products, which are not reciprocated by Guyana.

The GMSA highlighted a 2014 Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) ruling in a trade dispute between Suriname’s Rudisa Beverages & Juices N.V. and the State of Guyana, which reinforced the principle that states must perform their treaty obligations in good faith. This ruling underscores the importance of compliance with treaty obligations, a principle relevant to the current dispute.

(The Appendix to the CCJ Ruling in that case is attached here for ease of reference. The entire judgement can be found at https://ccj.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2014_CCJ_1_OJ.pdf)
The GMSA is actively engaged with the Trinidad & Tobago Manufacturers’ Association (TTMA) and the Caribbean Manufacturers Association (CMA) to find solutions to the problem. The association urges Trinidad and Tobago authorities to resolve the issue swiftly to avoid further interventions.