The Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) has completed its investigation of the erroneous shipment of 33 containers of parboiled rice to Panama last year and while it has cleared its staff of any wrongdoing, it remains unable to say how the mistake was made.
Last September, the shipment was flagged by the Panamanian authorities and sent back as white rice was to have been shipped, not parboiled rice. As a result, investigations were launched by the GRDB and the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU).
Hassan told a press conference at the Ministry of Agriculture yesterday that the findings of the GRDB’s investigation, which has been completed, revealed no wrongdoing on the part of the GRDB or its staff. He added that the investigation also revealed that all the relevant and requisite procedures were followed by the GRDB and its staff in the execution of their duties.
Attorney K Juman Yassin SC, a representative of the miller, Feyaadul Hakh told the press conference that the miller was taking the full responsibility for the mistake. “He is accepting responsibility for this mix up and he is also accepting responsibility publicly here today for the apparent mix up. He indicates there must have been some negligence involved and as the owner of the mill he has accepted responsibility and will ensure in the future there are [stricter] safeguards. He wishes to categorically state that he does not know about any corrupt employees or officials of the GRDB and all the dealings was above the board,” Yassin said.
However, it was not clear what exactly resulted in the mix up and both Hassan and Yassin were unable to provide the relevant answers. Hassan, in response to requests for more clarity, related that the GRDB did the relevant inspection and activities as it relates to testing and sampling the rice to ensure it met the specific criteria, and also witnessed the loading of the containers and the seals being placed. “What I can say with regards to those shipments [is] at some facilities where bagging and packing is done all the inspection is done there, meaning the GRDB inspection and customs inspection. At some facilities, a temporary seal is put on the containers after the GRDB and the containers are hauled to Georgetown and then customs would do their checks and then the custom seals are put on,” Hassan explained, while emphasising that the GRDB has done what it has been required to do.
When pressed about which part of the process the mistake would have occurred, Hassan said that there is a possibility that the rice could have been switched prior to being shipped.
“If we have seen white rice packed and parboiled rice arrived in Panama, it means the rice was switched… We ourselves looked at the timeline from when the rice was packed against when it arrived at the wharfs. Rice is finished packing on Fridays and the containers maybe are hauled down to the wharfs over the weekend or on a Monday. I can’t say definitely that any of our officers have seen the switch of the rice,” he said.
Despite the major error, he added that the miller, F Hakh was able to supply the correct rice to the buyer and from all indications, the issue should not affect future contracts with the Panamanian market.
“We have not lost the market. We, the GRDB, apologised to the institution, informing them that we are sorry and would replace the rice,” he said.
The GRDB has already signed a new contract worth approximately US$5.3 million for the supply of white rice to Panama and this, Hassan explained, represents one of the many contracts they receive annually. He also noted that he has no indication from Panama that it is going to be reducing the contracts.
Head of the Guyana Rice Exporters and Millers Association (GREMA) Rajendra Persaud was also present at the press conference and related that there is no financial gain from shipping parboiled rice instead of white rice.
