Dear Editor,
The Stabroek News’ Wednesday, February 27, 2019 edition, on page 13, carried a story under the caption, `Internal probe clears GRDB staff in erroneous Panama rice shipment’. As I read the story, some paragraphs more than once, I paused and tried to remember the last time I had read so much trash in a newspaper as it relates to an investigation.
If we are going to have departments and agencies investigating themselves, it is like having a case with the Devil and the court is in hell and the judge and jurors are relatives and friends of his (the devil). I subscribe to the old age doctrine that justice must not only be done, it must also appear to have been done.
I remember that Mr Nizam Hassan, GRDB General Manager, on a visit to the Essequibo Coast in the company of the Minister, Honourable Mr. Noel Holder, told the gathering (rice farmers) that the delivery of the wrong quality or kind of rice would not affect the market we have in Panama. We all hope that it will not, but it goes far beyond that. When one looks at the amount of containers in question (33), the likely negative effect on the rice industry is more than likely to trickle down to our rice farmers. The public needs to know—and the Guyana Rice Development Board, headed by Mr. Hassan, owes it to them— how such a mistake occurred, at what location it occurred, during what period and under whose custody and/or supervision the suspected switch took place, and whether careful inspection (or any inspection) was ever done, as, if the latter occurred, then it seems quite impossible that the contents of thirty three containers would not be detected.
In the 70s, there were some Detective Corporals stationed at the Suddie Police Station with whom I worked, namely Cpl. Barran, Samsundar, Harris and a few others; they would have fully investigated an incident of this nature and put up a report within a month. It is reasonable to assume and conclude that this investigation was lopsided.
If Mr Hassan were to report, at the end of a proper investigation, that any members of the GRDB were implicated in the matter, that may have been an indictment on himself, being the company’s General Manager. If at our port of entry or exit, our security personnel and other officials cannot monitor thirty three containers entering or leaving, then how on earth would they detect two suitcases of arms and ammunition or illegal substances? Maybe Mr. Hassan has the answer.
It is reasonable to assume that no inspection was ever done or it was with some level of collusion this embarrassing incident occurred?
Yours faithfully,
Archie W. Cordis.
