…after fried rice and pot roast chicken meal
An estimated 100 persons were rushed to medical institutions in Berbice and the city yesterday after eating fried rice and pot roast chicken prepared for them at the closing session of the ‘B’ Division Policing retreat.
Those taken ill included media teams from the Guyana News Agency (GINA), National Communications Network (NCN) and the Guyana National Newspapers Limited (GNNL), as well as members of the community policing groups and others.
They vomited and some fainted. They were sent to the New Amsterdam, Fort Wellington and Mahaicony hospitals, while the media team was transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital.
The food was reportedly served following a speech by Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee at the Berbice High School in New Amsterdam, and approximately 15 minutes after, persons began complaining of symptoms related to food poisoning.
A member of the media informed officials of the Home Affairs Ministry that the food was not good, and they in turn inquired from the CPG, which was reportedly responsible for preparing the food. The CPG however said that nothing was wrong with the food.
No one took the situation seriously until persons began collapsing, one person told this newspaper last night.
A number of persons, including children, lined the school’s corridor as those who partook of the meal vomited.
They complained of abdominal pains.
They made their way to the hospitals, where nurses confirmed that they were suffering from food poisoning.   
When a group of media workers arrived at the New Amsterdam Hospital, they were asked to seek attention from another hospital, as nurses there were overwhelmed by the large number of persons severely affected by the food poisoning.
The reporters then came down to the Georgetown Public Hospital where they received medical attention and a visit from Minister within the Ministry of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran.
Reports are that police officers are seeking the persons directly responsible for preparing the food.