THE Georgetown Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI) has expressed strong consternation over recent actions by Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) that have hindered Demerara Distillers Limited’s (DDL) export of milk and water.
This latest obstruction adds to a long-standing series of trade issues that have plagued the relationship between the two nations, further highlighting T&T’s antagonistic stance towards Guyana.

The GCCI has previously highlighted multiple instances of unfair treatment towards Guyanese exports. These include the rejection of pineapple shipments because the crowns were not removed, the refusal of pepper containers due to stems being intact, and a ban on poultry meat from Guyana despite no existing trade in this commodity.

Other issues include the mandatory fumigation of agricultural products with methyl bromide (a banned substance under the Montreal Protocol), the application of hypochlorous acid on eddoes, the rejection of honey for transshipment, and the denial of importation of already approved items.

These non-tariff barriers (NTBs), particularly targeting the agricultural sector, undermine CARICOM’s goal of reducing the regional food import bill by 25% by 2025. The GCCI views these barriers as attempts to thwart the efforts of H.E. Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, who has been leading CARICOM’s initiative to remove such obstacles.

Despite repeated instructions from the Council of Trade and Economic Development (COTED) to eliminate these NTBs, T&T continues to flout the directives and the principles of the Treaty of Chaguaramas.
The GCCI has noted that many goods rejected by T&T have been accepted by other CARICOM nations, which adhere more closely to the spirit of the CARICOM Single Market & Economy (CSME). In light of these ongoing issues, the GCCI urges the Government of Guyana to consider strictly applying the Principle of Reciprocity in trade with T&T until these NTBs are removed and T&T demonstrates good faith in its trade practices.