Canadian importer misusing Guyanese symbols -says DaSilva
Stabroek News
July 9, 2004
Geoffrey DaSilva, director of the Guyana Office for Investment is accusing a Canadian importer of misusing Guyanese packaging to sell his products which are not made locally.
The packaging has the country's map and uses the national flag's colours. It was developed by Bedessee Imports Ltd whose owner denies any trademark infringement.
But DaSilva is adamant that "this matter has to stop," adding that it is taking away jobs from Guyana.
DaSilva noted that the company sells sugar imported from Mauritius but labeled 'Demerara Gold', a name used on Guysuco's line of packaged sugar. This company is also selling packaged rice which gives the impression that it is a Guyanese product, he says.
But Raymond Bedessee, the general manager of Bedessee Imports Limited, located at 2350 Midland Avenue, Toronto, told Stabroek business in a telephone interview that he does not mislead his consumers by labelling products from other countries as coming from Guyana. Bedessee hails from the Corentyne.
He noted that those products which come from other countries are labelled as such and products coming from Guyana are labelled that way too.
He stated that the word 'Demerara' denotes a technical process used to make a certain type of sugar. He says his company uses the trademark of "Demerara Gold Brand" and not "Demerara Gold" as used by Guysuco. He says Bedessee purchases its sugar from Mauritius because it used to be the case that Guyanese producers preferred to sell their sugar to Europe.
The company also sells American rice because it is much cheaper than the local brand.
He states that the company would move to block any use of its trademark. But if the price is right he could consider buying local sugar.
He says the company also uses the term 'Demerara' on its rice and coconut oil products which do not come from Guyana. They do import noodles, fish, chow mein, cassareep, pepper sauce and curry powder from Guyana.
Paul Chung, of Beharry Group of Companies, noted that Beharry's own 'Chico' trademark is being used on Bedessee's products. Among the other items he sells are "Dutch Baby" condensed milk, "Green Gongo" pigeon peas "Guyanese Pride Starbonnet Rice and "Chico White Okra." Beharry Group of Companies found out aboutthis development several years ago when they tried to register the 'Chico' trademark in Canada, only to find that the trademark had already been registered by Bedessee.
However, after a legal battle between Bedessee and the Beharry Group of Companies it was agreed that Bedessee could not manufacture sweets carrying the 'Chico' trademark and Beharry could not use the 'Chico' trademark on products being manufactured by Bedessee for sale in Canada.
Bedessee noted that since 1977 he has registered this trademark in Canada. He also said numerous other companies are using trademarks with the term 'Chico.'
Apart from using local trademarks, the Guyana flag and the Guyana map is also being used on the labels of Bedessee's goods, but the company's general manager denied this. (Nicosia Smith)