Some 70-plus illegally imported cases of chicken were confiscated from Winn Dixie stores on Grand Bahama over the weekend after being brought in from Florida without a valid importation permit.
Agriculture Minister Leslie Miller said yesterday this is not acceptable and “Winn Dixie stores will be dealt with in short order.”
The minister said his office in Freeport was contacted by Bahamas Customs on Thursday of last week after receiving information that the poultry had been imported by Winn Dixie without proper authorization.
Mr. Miller said his office is investigating the matter and promised that his ministry along with Bahamas Customs will be dealing with Winn Dixie in relation to this matter.
Speaking with The Freeport News yesterday, Grand Bahama Chief Agriculture Inspector William Johnson said he went down to all three Winn Dixie stores on Thursday and examined their shipment of meat.
“It was discovered that they had a permit to bring in various types of meat, but when it came to the chickens Winn Dixie has no permit to import them,” he said.
Mr. Johnson explained that it is required by law that a permit be issued to bring in certain chickens, adding that there is also a restricted list issued by the Department of Agriculture that specifies exactly what types of poultry to bring in.
“Upon investigating the Winn Dixie stores we found whole chickens and they are not allowed to import whole chickens,” he said.
He explained that his department allows stores to import chicken parts such as drums and wings because local producers are unable to adequately supply certain parts. However, he said they do not allow whole chickens because they are provided locally.
While on Grand Bahama recently Minister Miller vowed that a new day was going come in the poultry and egg industry, where local farm executives would see an upsurge in bird and egg purchases by all importers in The Bahamas.
After that trip the minister was expected to meet with his colleagues to decide on the tariff, because he said that there was nothing wrong with the local eggs or chicken.
Twenty-four cases of chicken were taken from Winn Dixie downtown, 29 cases from Lucaya and 20 from Eight Mile Rock over the weekend.
Mr. Johnson said the chickens were donated to various charitable organization throughout the island, including the Home for the Aged, Children’s Home and the Red Cross.
Johnson explained that stores each week apply to bring in meats and applications are generally granted, but for some unknown reason Winn Dixie stores did not apply.
By ANGELO ARMBRISTER, Freeport News Reporter
