Minister of Commerce Manniram Prashad has said there is no ban on the importation of used tyres despite reports that the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) has proposed to ban them to stem the number of road accidents.
In a media briefing on Wednesday, Prashad said there is no evidence that used tyres are the cause of road accidents. According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release, Prashad said: “The Con-sumer’s Association and other non-governmental organisations are saying to me that the used tyres are substandard and defective and they cause accidents on the road but I have not gotten any scientific evidence either from the police or any organisation to show if the used tyres are actually causing more accidents.”
Prashad also said the ministry has received numerous complaints from individuals and the various minibus associations expressing concerns about recent statements by the GNBS about a ban on the importation of used tyres. He also noted that importers of new tyres have been lobbying for a ban on the importation of used tyres, while importers of the latter are claiming that they provide a much needed service.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has also voiced concerns about the dumping of used tyres from Europe and North America into countries like Guyana, but Prashad restated that he is unaware of any accidents caused by their use. “I don’t know if that is happening. So you have a series of people lobbying at the same time for different things. So that is the situation as it is. I propose having a meeting with the Guyana National Bureau of Standards to address these concerns,” he added.
According to GINA, the GNBS had told the media that used tyres are one of the primary causes of road accidents and that it had proposed a ban on the items. It had also called on the Guyana Police Force’s traffic department to ensure that tyres are meeting the necessary requirements for road use.
