UNITED STATES AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON

STATE UNIVERSITY SCIENTIFIC EXCHANGE PROGRM 20112013

REPORT
COUNTRY: USA
STUDENT NAME: Marlan Cole
MENTORS NAME: Dr. Karen Killinger and Dr. Richard Dougherty
UNIVERSITY: Washington State University
AREA OF STUDIES: HACCP PLAN Design
DATES: October 1st to November 19th, 2011
COUNTRY: Guyana
INSTITUTION: Ministry of Health (Government Analyst Food and Drugs
Department)
AREA OF STUDY: Food Safety Risk Analysis (HACCP) - Honey
DEPARTMENT: Washington State University School of Food Science
DATES: February 12th to 22nd, 2013.
Pic: Cole with Mentors

INTRODUCTION
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in early 2011
announced its scientific exchanges for the Caribbean Region, with the
deadline for submission of proposals being March 31st of the same year.
I submitted an application for the very program and received communication
on the 15th July, 2011 and was informed that my application was
competitively accepted. I was then given the opportunity to work one-onone with an expert in my field, where I would apply knowledge gained to my
research program for the continued development of myself and my country
Guyana.
The Washington State University (WSU) was selected as the venue for my
program and my mentors were Dr. Karen Killinger and Dr. Richard Dougherty.

My point person for this sojourn was none other than the very dependable
facilitator Dr. Oumar Badini to whom I owe much gratitude and appreciation.

AREA OF RESEARCH
I worked from October 1st to November 19th, 2011 on the design of an HACCP
Plan for Rajkumar Apiaries and Honey works situated in Guyana. During my
research and interaction I was able to attend the World Food Prize week of
activity which culminated on the 14 th October,2011, I participated in a
Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) workshop October 19 th -21st ,
2011 and lastly I attended the Northwest Food Safety and Sanitation
workshop November 8th-9th ,2011.
My fellow visiting scholar Mr. Charles Diako from Ghana was a source of
comfort and inspiration. We spent memorable time together under the
supervision of Dr. Oumar Badini. Mr. Charles Diako is now a Research
Assistant in the School of Food Science at the Washington State University
(WSU).
ACTIVITIES
In retuned to Guyana and continued working on my HACCP plan with support
from the Rajkumar Apiaries and Honey Works in Guyana. During this process
I continued communication with my mentors while I made arrangements for
their imminent visit to Guyana. The intended program of activities was, to
conduct a Food Safety Risk Analysis (HACCP) Workshop and host the first
ever Better Process Control School in Guyana.

THE VISITS
On the 11th, February , 2013 Dr. Killinger and Dr. Richard Dougherty touched
down at the Timerhi International Airport to commence a ten (10) day visit to
Guyana. Our collective and specific task and responsibilities were to conduct
a three (3) day workshop on Food Safety Risk Analysis February 13-15 th, 2013
and in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of
Health conduct the first ever Better Process Control School course February
18-21st, 2013.

On the 12th of February a courtesy called was paid to the Minister of

Agriculture Dr. Leslie Ramsammy at his office and a visit was made to the
Government Analyst Food and Drug Department where the mentors visited
the Laboratories and spoke to the Director.
On the morning of February 13th, in excess of thirty five (35) persons from
different discipline and areas of interest in Guyana (Regulatory, Industry,
Government, Special Interest Group and NGOs) participated in a Food Safety
Risk Analysis Workshop hosted at the Cara Lodge Hotel. Topics covered in
presentations made by Dr. Killinger and Dr. Dougherty included; The New US
Food Safety Modernization Act and its Implication for trade in the Caribbean,
Better Process Control School Program and its importance and mode of
delivery, HACCP Plan Design and Application (RajhKumar Honey), and a field
visit to Rajkumar Honey some fifty five (55) miles out of the capital city was
embarked on by participants.

LIST OF PARTICIPANTS ATTENDED THE WORKSHOP

THIS IS ONE CERTIFICATED PRESENTED AFTER THE WORKSHOP

On Friday 15th February2013, Dr. Killinger and Dr. Dougherty visited our
National Television station NCN and conducted a recorded television program
named the Farmers Diary. The moderator asked about their origin and their
reason for being in Guyana among other things. Emphasis during the
television program was placed on the hosting of the Better Process Control
School and what benefit it can give to participants who are from the agroprocessing industry.
Dr. Killinger and Dr. Dougherty took the weekend off and visited our national
museum, did some shopping and on Sunday 17 th February 2011, they

explored the majestic Kaieteur Falls of Guyana, the Worlds largest one drop
falls. I was told that the experience was breath taking. www.kaieteurfslls.gy
On Monday 18 February, 2013, the opening ceremony of the first ever Better
Process Control School in Guyana took place. The Permanent Secretary
Ministry of Agriculture Mr. George Jarvis and the immediate past Director of
the Food and Drug Department Ms. Marilyn Collins shared the Head table
with Dr. Killinger and Dougherty.
Soon after the ceremonial opening and the expression of pleasantries,
welcoming and other protocol, the School was set in motion for the next four
(4) day.
This activity was completed without incident and successful
participants were identified. Those who were unsuccessful were reminded of
the possibility of doing the course again without any additional cost.
The Minister of Agriculture Dr. Leslie Ramsammy give closing remarks at the
end of the School. Mentors Dr. Killinger and Dougherty expressed thanks and
appreciation to all for the hospitality, friendship and support demonstrated
to all during the exercise.

LIST OF PARTICIPANTS WHO WERE CERTIFIED BETTER PROCESS

CONTROL SCHOOL
ONE CERTIFIED PARTICIPANT BPCS

CONCLUSION
I am happy to have taken this opportunity when presented to me by the
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to pursue this Scientific
Exchange Program. I am also grateful to the Washington State University for
hosting me as a Visiting Scholar. The experience gained and the knowledge
acquired would be long lasting and it is invaluable. I have already started to
assist in training programs and HACCP plan implementation for small scale
food processing industries in Guyana.
The hosting of the Food Safety Risk Analysis (HACCP) workshop in Guyana
was very timely, since the impact and implication for the Food Industry
relative to the New US Food Safety Modernization ACT was highlighted during
the workshop. In addition, the hosting of the first every Better Process
Control School in Guyana could not have come at a better time since Guyana

is undergoing a massive program of Agriculture diversification with an

emphasis of value added commodities to guarantee our food security into
the future. All was well and ended well.

New Papers Article Links

http://www.guyanatimesgy.com/?p=1502
http://www.guyanatimesgy.com/?s=Food+Safety+Workshop+-+Killinger+
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I wish to thanks the:
The Ministry of Health
The Ministry of Agriculture
Government Food and Drugs Department
The US Department of Agriculture
The Washington State University
The Department of Food Science WSU
Dr. Karen Killinger
Dr. Richard Dougherty
Dr. Oumar Badini
Dr. Colleen Taugher
And Mr. Charles Diako
Submitted by:
.....................................
Marlan Cole