The Ministry of Public Health has denied that minister Dr. George Norton instructed the Director of the Government Analyst Food and Drug Department (GA-FDD) Marlan Cole to release all of the consignments belonging to Sueria Manufacturing Incorporated.
Stabroek News had reported on Monday that in the wake of complaints of victimisation by Sueria, Norton had instructed Cole to immediately approve the release of all of the company’s consignments and to first seek clearance from him before any future decision to seize or withhold shipments from any importers.
Contacted by Stabroek News, Cole confirmed that he has not received a letter or any other directive from the Minister in relation to Sueria.
In a release to the press yesterday, the ministry said that having met with all parties involved, it was the minister’s intention to communicate two courses of action to Cole—the decision to establish advisory committees on drug and food and pending their establishment to have him first inform the minister of any intention to seize or withhold any imports—but the planned letter was never sent.
“The meeting with Mr Cole might have left some doubt in the minds of [Ministry of Public Health] officials. However, Minister Norton has acknowledged that in all fairness to Mr Cole’s actions, the F&D is a regulatory body and he would never want to be involved in influencing the body in any way,” it said.
“Minister Norton has insisted that he will not undermine the F&D in its operations. While it is his desire to resolve the situation amicably, he stated that the court remains an avenue which the disgruntled party can use to seek redress,” the release added.
Stabroek News had seen a letter addressed to Cole informing of plans to establish a Drug Advisory Committee and a Food Advisory Committee in accordance with the Food and Drug Act, and that pending the establishment of the committees, Cole must first inform the minister of any intention to seize or withhold consignments being imported by companies. These instructions reportedly followed a meeting on November 28 where Cole briefed Norton along with Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Karen Cummings and other senior Public Health Officials on the issues. It also followed a meeting between Norton and officials of Sueria Manufacturing on Thursday, 2016 to discuss the matter.
Sueria’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Frank Sanichara recently led public protests by some importers against Cole, whom he accused of showing bias and refusing to accept certification for authentic products. Sanichara complained to the ministry about Cole’s holding up of shipments of Guzzler sports drinks, Shakura Energy Drink and Juicy Juice as well as his attempts to import a large quantity of baby formula for personal use.
On December 8, Sanichara wrote Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Health Trevor Thomas over Cole’s “sudden” decision to change the required format of free sale certification with regard to imports from the American Beverage Corporation. In the letter, Sanichara said that he was frustrated and charged that Cole “keeps changing his requirements, continues to abuse his power and victimise my company.”
