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Mahaicony Rice Mills owes farmers $380M, GRDB mulls action

Jun 29, 2010 News

More than $380M is owed to farmers by one of Guyana’s biggest rice millers and authorities say that they contemplating taking actions unless answers are forthcoming.
According to officials of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) yesterday, for the last crop, Mahaicony Rice Limited (MRL) bought almost $818M in paddy from farmers but only paid $435M as at June 23. MRL operates seven locations across the country.
“We had a meeting in Bush Lot last week and farmers complained bitterly of not being paid on time. We are experiencing tremendous difficulties getting them to explain the situation. We are e-mailing them; calling them but farmers are stilling complaining,” a senior GRDB official said yesterday.
Over the past weeks, Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud, has been warning that GRDB is willing to stand the court costs for farmers who are willing to take millers to court for non-payment.
In two cases, MRL officials claimed that there were “special” arrangements with the rice farmers.
“But these rice farmers are claiming they have nothing special with Mahaicony Rice. We are trying to get to the truth but they not answering.”
MRL, according to GRDB officials yesterday, is claiming that it is paying farmers weekly but no evidence of this is forthcoming. Under new regulations, rice millers have to pay farmers within a certain time or pay interest also.
Additionally, the Mill could face suspension of its operating licences.
Attempts to elicit a comment from Mahaicony Rice yesterday proved futile.

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