| Commerce Confirms Rotten Rice Story, But… |
| Published on September 29, 2011 | Email To Friend Print Version
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The Ministry of Commerce & Industry says it is aware of some damaged rice at SWAT's warehouse.According to a press release, the letter from SWAT's management dated September
22, 2011, asked the Ministry to send a team of technicians to work along with theirmanagement to address the issue.
According to the letter, as a result of heavy down pour of rain, an unprecedented quantity of rice was reportedly damaged and the management therefore needed the official intervention of government.
The Ministry immediately dispatched a team of technicians headed by Mr. Mohammed Touray, Director of Standards, to work along with the SWAT's management to resolve the problem, the release said.
“It was therefore disheartening, unprofessional and unfortunate that a reporter would elect to publish a story about damaged rice without checking details with the Ministry of Commerce & Industry,” release, in reaction to media reports that rotten rice was in the country, noted.
The Commerce Ministry's release was in specific reference to the September 27, 2011 Edition of the New Republic Newspaper, under the caption' "HEALTH HAZARD-SWAT'S STRATEGY TO CONCEAL ROTTEN RICE, BACKFIRES".
The Ministry said it considers such report “unethical, bias, and lacks credibility in the noble journalism profession. It therefore exposes the weakness of the character of the reporter behind the story.”
The release said “The Ministry has official duty to give explanation regarding arrangements that are credible. The Ministry wishes to caution all media houses to contact our public relation division where there are doubts about commodity standards before going ahead to publish any story.”
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