Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda addressing a press conference to update the country on the importation of rice held at the Ministry’s St. Lucia office on Tuesday, December 13, 2016. Looking on is Acting Permanent Secretary, Mr. Reginald Budhan.
Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda has moved to allay the fears of Jamaican consumers following reports of an unconfirmed case of plastic contaminated rice in Jamaica.
Speaking at a media briefing Tuesday afternoon at the ministry’s 4 St. Lucia Avenue offices, the Agriculture Minister said every effort is being made by the Government to safeguard the health of consumers.
Minister Samuda said that there has been no evidence of plastic in the samples tested by the Bureau of Standards Jamaica to date. The samples were taken from supermarkets in Manchester, where is it is believed that the bad rice was purchased.
The Agriculture Minister also announced that he has instructed the Bureau of Standards to conduct islandwide investigations into the source of all rice that is currently on supermarket shelves.
At the same time, Minister Samuda said steps have also been taken to ensure that there is no shortage of rice during the holiday period. On Monday, the Jamaica Customs Agency announced that it would temporarily cease the clearance of rice at all ports pending the outcome of testing.
However on Tuesday, Minister Samuda said rice originating from Guyana and Suriname will be allowed into the country.
“Guyana and Suriname are members of CARICOM and we have never had any difficulties with contamination, so there is no justifiable reason for us to hold those shipments. Nonetheless we will be vigilant in our spot tests of all rice imports,” said Minister Samuda.
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