Gulf Daily News, Manama,Bahrain
By MANDEEP SINGH
HUNDREDS of packets of tea, which washed up on Bahrain’s shores were dumped to save a merchant vessel from capsizing in rough seas, it was revealed yesterday.
They were dumped nearly three weeks ago, en route from Sri Lanka to Dubai, said the agent who was importing the cargo.
“The owner of the shipping company responsible informed us nearly three weeks ago that they had dumped a part of their cargo to prevent what could have led the vessel from capsizing in the stormy waters,” said Dubai-based Naseem Al Barari General Trading Company import and export manager Abdul Wahab.
“They have also confirmed to us that they would compensate us for the loss.”
Mr Wahab would not name the shipping company, nor give a figure for compensation.
He said the company routinely imported foodstuff from the Indian Sub-continent, including from Sri Lanka and that tea from the island nation was much sought after in the Gulf countries.
“I am not aware that these packets washed off on the coast of Bahrain,” he said.
“As far as I know, the packets were dumped in the first week of this month, when the vessel was en route to Dubai.”
Scavengers swooped on hundreds of packets of the tea as it washed up on the Busaiteen coast last Thursday and many turned up for sale in shops and at market stalls across the country.
Health Ministry inspectors confiscated any they came across and revealed that the tea had been contaminated by sea water and oil.
Health Ministry’s food control section head Dr Abdullah Ahmed said it was common for merchant vessels to dump excess loads.
He said scores of packets of the tea were removed from shelves across Manama, Muharraq and Busaiteen.
Inspectors also seized a six-wheel truck full of the washed-up packets, during a check on Old Isa Town Suq on Friday.
The packets of “Apple” brand “Pure Ceylon Tea” packed in Colombo, Sri Lanka by Expolanka Teas (P), are in conspicuous, bright green packaging, bearing a manufactured date of October last year and an expiry date of October 2009.
Dr Ahmed cautioned people yesterday again not to drink the tea or consume any foodstuff washed up from the sea. “People could find such things because vessels getting rid of their unwanted cargo is not uncommon,” he said.
“To be on the safe side, however, they should not consume these and instead inform the relevant authorities.”
Busaiteen resident Hassan Yousef first reported the packets of tea washing up as he went to his boat, anchored at the coast, on Thursday.
Mr Yousef called Dr Ahmed, who then swung into action and despatched teams to get hold of as many packets as they could.
The confiscated samples were subjected to laboratory examination a day later, on Friday and found to be contaminated.
