Norton instructs Food and Drug director to release Sueria consignments -must seek approval before seizing, withholding imports

In the wake of complaints of victimisation by Sueria Manufacturing Inc., Minister of Public Health Dr. George Norton has instructed Director of the Food and Drug Department Marlan Cole to immediately approve the release of all of the company’s consignments and to first seek clearance from him before any decision to seize or withhold any imports.

Norton’s decision follows meetings with Cole and other senior ministry officials as well as with Sueria officials.

Sueria 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.

In a letter to Cole last Wednesday, which was seen by Stabroek News, Norton informed that he has decided to establish a Drug Advisory Committee and a Food Advisory Committee, in accordance with Section 26(a) of the Food and Drug Act. “In the interim, all consignments currently being withheld by the GA-FDD with respect to Sueria Manufacturing Inc. [should] be approved for release, forthwith,” he added.

He said too that pending the establishment of the committees, Cole “must first seek clearance” of the Minister of Public Health before seizing or withholding consignments imported by companies.

Norton also asked Cole to furnish him with a list of all companies whose consignments are being seized/held by the Department.

Although it is believed by some that Cole should be allowed to do his work without any interference, Norton views the situation differently and told Stabroek News that the law gives him the authority to intervene.

He said because many businesspersons have been complaining and accusing Cole of favouritism and unfair practices, “we said to him that he should stop seizing until we establish those two bodies [the advisory committees on food and drugs] so that they can advise and evaluate and to stop that situation of one person making that decision.”

Asked whether he as minister has such authority, he responded “the law says that.”

Norton said that if it wasn’t for the ongoing consideration of the proposed 2017 national budget by the National Assembly, he would have taken the names of nominees for the committees to Cabinet for approval. He explained that the law stipulates who should be involved but in the meantime “we said he should communicate with us before he makes any decisions, especially (with) his immediate superior, the Chief Medical Officer. He falls under the Chief Medical Officer, so this claim about him not being answerable to anybody else is not true.”

One day after Norton’s letter, 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.”