RPA pressure group seeks revamped industry

May 13, 2009 News

The Rice Producers’ Association Action Committee at a recent press conference, said that following an order granted by Justice Winston Patterson, to stop the Guyana Rice Producers Association elections, thousands of farmers are extremely angry over the flagrant attempt to violate their rights to vote at those elections.
According to the Committee’s spokesperson, Jinnah Rahman, the elections were legally due to be held on or before the April 30, 2009, but were rescheduled to a later date by the current leadership for no good reason.
According to him, many rice farmers are experiencing tremendous loss from very low paddy prices and extreme hardships due to the lack of repairs to internal roads.
In view of the appalling crisis in the Rice industry, Rahman said, they are launching the Committee for Defence of Rice Farmers and an Intervention Fund Committee.
According to Rahman, the Defence Committee will solicit support from Guyanese of all walks of life in solidarity with rice farmers and raise funds for the impending legal action to be heard on May 25, in the Supreme Court.
He added that the Invention Fund will protect the industry and secure a sustainable future for all rice farmers.
“Rice production is a business and like any business it must make a profit. Rice is the only product in Guyana that unites all Guyanese regardless of race, class, gender and age. Rice farmers today are no long going to produce rice at starvation wages.”
He also said that the government has consistently subsidised flour to the Guyanese consumers, but is unwilling to intervene to see that the rice farmers get a reasonable price for their produce.
The RPA Action Committee is contending that the lack of active support by this government to rice farmers has caused the rice industry to collapse.
The Committee is calling for fair and free elections of the Guyana Rice Producers Association (GRPA), conducted under Chapter 69.01 of Guyana Rice Producers Association ACT and that an Independent Election Commission be set up to run the elections throughout the country.
In addition, the re-installment of the export facilities in Georgetown, which was put in place by the late Dr. Cheddi Jagan Government, is now sold to a private owner, associated with B.K. Tiwari.
“Rice exporters have been deprived of an important facility which was used to ship more than 300,000 tons of rice – which is a major foreign exchange earner.”
“Rice farmers should get duty-free concession – equal to the treatment given to Timber companies and the Bauxite companies – Timber and Bauxite companies get duty free diesel.”
And, there is the need for the Guyana Rice Development Board (GDRB) is radically re-oganised to include independently –minded professionals and rice farmers elected by rice farmers.

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RPA pressure group seeks revamped industry

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