Campbell THE MINISTRY of Industry and Commerce has denied that a team from its Food Storage and Infestation Division found some rice mills in Guyana to be in a deplorable condition.
Colin Campbell, Minister of State, said however, there had been concerns with regard to the fumigation methods employed in Guyana. He said the ministry has been working very closely with the Guyanese rice industry to correct the problems.
He was reacting to a Gleaner story on Thursday which quoted ministry officials as saying a two-member team found some of the rice mills in Guyana to be in a deplorable condition with a high degree of infestation.
Mr Campbell said "the framework for co-operation in this area" was established during the recent visit of the Guyana Minister of Trade, Tourism and Industry, Geoffrey DaSilva, to Jamaica from July 18-20, 2000. Also, Mr. Campbell declared that "co-operation between our two CARICOM member- states will continue at all levels."
Arising from the visit of the Food Storage officers, specific recommendations will be made to the Guyanese authorities on how to improve storage, handling and fumigation techniques. Later this month, the Food Storage Division of the ministry will host a team from the Guyana rice industry to view first hand, the fumigation methodologies used in Jamaica and to better understand the legislative framework in Jamaica for food safety, the ministry said.
According to the ministry, he Food Storage Division has been commissioned by the Guyanese authorities to design and present a training programme on fumigation techniques. It is expected that Jamaican ministry officials in Guyana will conduct the training programme later this year.
