Ban on Ramsaran’s Dairy Products lifted
The Supermarket Association of Trinidad and Tobago (SATT) says it is satisfied with measures taken by Ramsaran’s Dairy Products to address the racial comments made by an employee of the company.
As such, the association has decided to lift the boycott on the company’s products.
SATT’s decision comes two days after the association advised its membership to pull the products off their shelves to show condemnation of the comments made by the company’s accountant and daughter of the owner, Naila Ramsaran.
Upset with the People’s National Movement (PNM) victory over the United National Congress (UNC) in Monday’s general election, Ramsaran on Tuesday took to social media to express her anger and disappointment, suggesting that contraceptives be placed in the water supply of PNM supporters whom she referred to as cockroaches and said the only thing they know how to do is vote.
Ramsaran later posted and deleted an apology and deactivated her Facebook account.
Her comments were deemed to be racist and offensive to the PNM’s Afro support base and prompted calls for a boycott of the company’s juice and punch products.
Massy Stores was the first to announce a boycott, later followed by Xtra Foods, Persad’s D’ Food King, JTA, West Bees and TruValu who responded immediately to the boycott calls by pulling the products from their shelves and temporarily halting orders from the company.
Ramsaran’s subsequently issued an apology for the “utterly unacceptable and reprehensible” comments and announced that it had parted ways with “a close family member of the owners” of the organisation.
Principled stance
In a release yesterday, SATT president, Rajiv Diptee, said the decision to remove Ramsaran’s products was a principled stance as SATT makes every effort to align with partners who share its core values.
“In similar spirit, we actively support local businesses and those entrepreneurs who participate in the local economy, as we do. SATT has consistently demonstrated profound respect for the various ethnic, religious and multicultural segments of our society,” he said.
Diptee however acknowledged that the opinions expressed on social media by Naila Ramsaran were her own views and not reflective of the views of the company. He further noted the company had acted against the employee and denounced her statements.
“We take note that the company also issued a full repudiation of the same employee’s opinions as policy and also acknowledge that it has taken subsequent redress to have the matter amended. This included the dismissal of the employee in question as well as a full apology communicated via national press media.” he said.
“In light of the actions taken by Ramsaran’s Dairy Products to redress this unfortunate situation, we are satisfied at this time to lift the boycott on Ramsaran’s Dairy Products,” he said.
Consumer choice
Diptee however reminded consumers the power of choice lies with them.
“Whether or not they choose to patronise the products lies within their grasp and this is a choice that remains effectively their own,” he added.
He further urged the public to “move away from divisive diatribe that has the crippling potential to polarise us as a nation”.
“Notwithstanding the current challenges which affect all of us at this time, we remain committed to doing our part to stand alongside every citizen in the healing process and against all forms of discrimination in Trinidad and Tobago,” he said.
The lifting of the boycott by SATT was met with varying reactions by persons on social media yesterday evening with some agreeing that Ramsaran’s had acted sufficiently to rectify the situation while others insisted they would still withhold support for the company.
Some called for a boycott of Massy Stores which was the first supermarket to announce that it would be removing Ramsaran’s products from its shelves.
Contacted yesterday, Massy marketing manager Anthony Choo Quan said he had no comment on the issue.
No dogla PM good
