There are signs that progress is being made towards the settlement of differences between the local Government Analyst Food and Drug Department (GAFDD) and its counterpart agency in Trinidad and Tobago, the Chemistry Food and Drugs Department, that could pave the way for a resumption of the importation into the twin-island Republic of packaged coconut water from Guyana.
Stabroek Business has seen copies of an exchange of correspondence between GAFDD Director Marlan Cole and his opposite number in Port of Spain, Chief Chemist and Director of Food and Drugs, Farz Khan agreeing to a set of regulatory oversight mechanisms for the importation of coconut water packaged here.
The development comes against the backdrop of the brouhaha that surfaced earlier this year over the refusal by the Port of Spain authorities to allow a shipment of the local Rooster brand of coconut water, produced by popular Essequibo businessman Roopan Ramotar from being sold in the CARICOM territory on the grounds that the product did not meet the necessary safety standard. This, despite the fact that the GAFDD had stated that its own testing had given the product a clean bill of health.
