An official at Supply Trading West Africa (SWAT) one of the country's major rice importers has called on some of its competitors to avoid spreading information to the public as such would not help the industry to grow.

The Administrative Manger of the company, madam Musu Henries said she believes that a news report which appeared in a local newspaper against the company was the work of United commodities Incorporated (UCI), also a major rice importer on the Liberian market.

She said, news that the company exported unclean rice to Ivory Coast was wrong and unfair to them. Her statement was in response to an email sent by one Zoom Dosso, a journalist against SWAT and published in a local daily on Monday. Zoom is said to be associated with UCI. According to her, the rice exported to Ivory Coast was done with the consent of the Ministry of Commerce, the regulatory Government agency for the industry.

She said, "Embarking on such work is not helpful at all. When people start on such negative propaganda, it affects the customers. We all should avoid such negative propaganda against the other."

According to her, the email sent associated SWAT one French national, Guy DEMONTOLE, who is in charge of the rice department of the Swiss company Louis Dreyfus, as one of the main shareholders. That Guy DEMONTOLE is said to have been taking huge amount of rice to distribute to companies in Africa which he is attached to.

Moreover, his email alleged that the French national was connected to price hike of rice on the African continent. But UCI official denied her statements saying they were not involved into such work. The official who spoke on condition of anonymity said, "we are a responsible company and do not get involve into such dirty work. Yes, we know the French company well. There is no way we will get into such rice politics."

When contacted the Ministry of Commerce, Assistant Minister Rufus Neuville confirmed the shipment of rice, but said, "we are aware of that. We granted SWAT the permit because the rice was going slow in the market and it was needed in Ivory Coast. Also, when the shipment was done, we had another shipment of rice for Liberia by SWAT at the port."