Granger wants more use of cassava flour in place of wheat flour
July 27,2016
President David Granger has touted the use more cassava and other gluten-free flours as a mean of staying ‘healthier’.
And for the use of sweet potato and cassava flour to become more accepted the President, who was at the time speaking on the side-lines of a workshop for newly appointed ambassadors, said it should be used in hospitals, the Guyana Defence Force and the Guyana Prison Service.
However as reports of Granger’s comment went viral Guyanese commenting on social media reflected on the period when the Forbes Burnham led PNC government banned the importation of wheaten flour, split peas, onions, garlic, milk, sardines, corned beef and other food items and forcefully promoted the use of cassava, rice, plantain and corn flours. This led to an escalation of smuggling and also resulted in Guyanese having to endure shortages and long lines for basic food items.
The move to ban wheat flour by the Burnham government was also seen as an attack against the predominantly Indo-Guyanese supporters of the People’s Progressive Party who used the staple as part of their daily diet and for religious purposes.