GORDON
PRESIDENT OF the Jamaica Exporters Association, (JEA) Dr. André Gordon, said Wednesday that he will be stepping down as president of the organisation for a 30-day period with immediate effect.
He said that he was going on a leave of absence to work along with the United States Food and Drug (USFDA) in co-ordinating studies on the hypoglycin content in Jamaican ackees. He said his visit to Maryland is also expected to restore the integrity of his business Technological Solutions Limited and the JEA.
"I am leaving to allow the JEA to pursue the interest of its member, including my own business," said Dr. Gordon. "It seems the best way to do this is to step down as president for the moment," he added.
In December 2005, 31 cases of ackees were recalled by the USFDA because of unusual levels of hypoglycin content found in them. At present Dr. Gordon said the livelihood of the ackee export industry is threatened even as six local companies may encounter difficulties exporting the product because the USFDA is still not sure that Jamaica's testing methods of the hypoglycin content in the ackee matches theirs.
In the interim, Marjory Kennedy, a vice-president of the Association will act as president.
