Clarke was posing questions to Tufton regarding the safety of inorganic fertiliser imported by the Government which is being sold at a cheaper price than the organic product manufactured here.

Tufton told the House that the fertiliser contained human excreta, but noted that the United States Environmental Protection Agency had given the product a clean bill of health.

But Clarke demanded to know what protocol was followed for the importation of the product which, he said, some farmers were afraid to use.

Not amused

"It is the first time that faeces are being imported," Clarke said after quizzing Tufton about the product's safety from stool-borne diseases caused by E. coli and salmonella contamination.

"We want to know what is the protocol in place to deal with the use of it. It is the first time that inorganic fertiliser has come to the country," Clarke remarked as government members heckled him.

But Tufton was not amused.

"The member has sought to utilise what he believes are the fears or the potential fears of the Jamaican people to score political points. It is disgraceful," Tufton said.