Surinamese Customs has seized a shipment of approximately 385 tonnes of rice from Guyana over allegedly missing import approvals, while the importer has taken the State to court seeking inspection and release of the cargo.

Starnieuws reported yesterday that Customs seized the parboiled rice imported by entrepreneur Bhagwatpersad Ramadhin on Monday evening. It was subsequently placed aboard the vessel Falk under supervision and guard.

Efforts by Kiskadee Watch to get a comment from the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) yesterday proved futile.

Ramadhin’s urgent civil action was heard on Tuesday and is scheduled to continue today, October 8. The State is opposing his application on the grounds that the required permissions had not been obtained when the shipment entered Suriname.

The seizure follows an earlier announcement by Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Minister Mike Noersalim that the rice would be returned to Guyana.

According to Starnieuws’ October 4 report, the shipment arrived aboard the MV Falk and was destined for B. Ramadhin’s rice factory in Nickerie. A phytosanitary certificate issued by Guyana’s National Plant Protection Organisation on September 29 recorded the cargo as 384,800 kilogrammes.

Noersalim said certification from the exporting country did not replace the prior phytosanitary permission required from Surinamese authorities. Part of the rice had already been cleared and removed from the port before the missing approval was discovered, prompting its recall.

Ramadhin wants the authorities ordered to inspect the rice and permit its clearance if no phytosanitary risk is established. He is also seeking to prevent the State from returning, destroying or otherwise disposing of the cargo, with a penalty of SRD1 million per day for non-compliance with the orders requested.

Starnieuws reported that Ramadhin disputed attempting to obstruct inspections. His petition states that he returned the rice to the port following discussions with officials and remained available for further checks.

Economic Affairs, Entrepreneurship and Technological Innovation Minister Andrew Baasaron raised a separate issue over an allegedly missing import licence. He said rice required prior licensing and no application for the shipment appeared in the relevant electronic system.

Baasaron announced plans for the Economic Control Service to seize the cargo and said it would not be returned to Guyana, differing from Noersalim’s earlier position. He also called for scrutiny of the Customs officers who had authorised the initial release.

Yesterday’s report said Customs ultimately carried out the seizure. Starnieuws reported that Economic Affairs inspectors had not received permission from the Public Prosecution Service to do so.

Citing a Customs record, the outlet said poor internet connectivity initially prevented officers from checking all supporting documents. An importer’s representative reportedly assured them that the necessary paperwork had been uploaded, and part of the cargo was released.

Once access was restored, officers found required documents missing, stopped further release and recalled the rice already removed. The reported dispute concerns import approvals; the reports cited do not identify a finding that the rice was contaminated.

The vessel also carried urea for the same enterprise. Starnieuws cited a September 17 pro forma invoice from Guyana’s Nand Persaud and Company Limited for 600 tonnes, comprising 12,000 bags, valued at US$600,000. Baasaron said an application was recorded for the urea. The invoice identified Nand Persaud as the fertiliser supplier, rather than establishing who supplied the disputed rice.

Noersalim also warned that cheaper imported parboiled rice sold for animal feed could reduce demand for locally produced broken rice, placing further pressure on Suriname’s farmers.