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Govt. flays Mahaicony Rice Mills over farmers’ payments

Jul 23, 2010 News

– tables bill mandating millers’ 10% deposit

Government regulators of the rice industry are one step closer to making into law a 10% bond by millers to ensure that farmers are paid.
It will be the latest offence launched by authorities in the face of growing complaints by farmers about outstanding payment from millers.
The Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) is locked in a battle with several millers across the country over late payments and even recent changes in regulations to reduce the time farmers have to be paid, have failed to improve the situation.
Another amendment to the Rice Factory Act of 1998 was yesterday tabled by Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud at a sitting of the National Assembly.
The amendment will mandate millers to submit a statement of the paddy, if any, purchased in the previous year and a security deposit of 10% for the payment of the paddy sought to be purchased.
According to the bill, the amendment is to ensure compliance with the conditions of the factory licence, which include the fulfillment of any obligations under the Act or regulations, including the payment of any fee, fine, penalty or other monies.
The miller can also submit a bank guarantee of 25% of the value of the paddy purchased in the previous year.
GRDB, according to the amendment, may exempt a miller from the requirement if the mill has consistently, in the preceding three years, fulfilled its payment obligations.
Yesterday, rice farmers in Essequibo and in Berbice complained that the situation of late payments has become worse with Mahaicony Rice Mills (MRM), among the top of the list of millers under fire.
Farmers claimed that their coming crop is under threat because there are no monies.
The complaints come even as there are disclosures that government is not too happy with the situation and is also moving to put measures in place to break monopolies in the rice sector.

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