Gramoxone ban being considered

THE Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Board has considered whether or not to ban the importation and distribution of paraquat (Gramoxone) in TT.

The board, which is chaired by the Chief Medical Officer, will also consider cancelling registrations and licences as it deems fit.

Agriculture Minister Clarence Rambharat made this disclosure in the House of Representatives Monday.

He said paraquat is used in approximately 40 per cent of suicides in TT. Because of this, he explained, the Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Act and Regulations require paraquat to be “stenched” (made to smell unpleasant) and an emetic incorporated in it to induce vomiting.

On queries from Opposition MPs about whether he could intervene directly, Rambharat said the United National Congress was in office twice for a total of ten years and did nothing about it.

He reminded MPs that paraquat has been registered locally since 1989 as a non-selective herbicide. Premises licensed by the board to sell it must keep a register of sales and purchases, and Rambharat added that as a class-one pesticide, paraquat must be kept in a secure place where the public has no free access.

Later in the sitting, Rambharat said the fine for hunting the scarlet ibis will increase from $1,000 to $100,000 once it is classified as an environmentally sensitive species, from June 22. In addition to this increased fine, there is a penalty of two years’ imprisonment.

Rambharat said there were 13 reports of poaching scarlet ibis between last January and March. A total of 21 people were held in this period, seven were charged a total of $6,000, three have ongoing matters in court and 11 have been cautioned.