Latest update December 23rd, 2024 3:40 AM
Rice farmers call for removal of Rice Board Head
Essequibo rice farmers have called for an immediate engagement with the new Agriculture Minister, Noel Holder. The call came during protest action staged at the Anna Regina High Bridge, yesterday.
Rice farmers protesting at Anna Regina High Bridge, yesterday.
Apart from an engagement with Holder to iron out issues ranging from poor drainage in the Region, late payments and sometimes no payments to rice farmers, to poor dockage and weight processing, the disgruntled farmers are also calling for the removal of Jagnarine Singh, the General Manager of the Guyana Rice Development Board. Further, they want to see the back of Dharamkumar Seeraj, the General Secretary of the Guyana Rice Producers’ Association.
Farmers are also clamouring for the removal of the CEO of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority, Lionel Wordsworth and his Board. “Investigate the PetroCaribe fund that the PPP/C has stolen.”
Friday’s protest was led by President of the Essequibo Farmers’ Association group leader, Naith Ram. The protestors marched from the Anna Regina High Bridge to the People’s Progressive Party Office, before re-assembling at the Anna Regina High Bridge.
Ram said that since last March, after farmers would have sold their paddy to millers, they are still owed large sums. He contended that farmers countrywide are been owed some $6B, while those in Essequibo are owed $1.2B.
Ram said that it is hard on rice farmers since they have their families to take care of and in most cases are indebted to the bank.
When asked who would replace Jagnarine Singh, should he be relieved of his duties, Ram said that the new government needs to employ honest and qualified people to run the rice industries. Another farmer said that the farmers should be the ones to decide who must be placed on the Rice Board to represent them.
Ram stated that since after the May National and Regional elections, almost all of the kokers in the Region have not been functioning resulting in areas such as Capoey, Devonshire-Castle and Walton-Hall being flooded out.
Ram also argued that while the Region continues to battle with heavy and continuous congested outfalls due to the massive build up of silt; he believes that Holder should revisit the contracts that were given to businessmen who were provided with Government machinery to clean those outfalls.
The protestors bore placards bearing “Jagnarine must go, very corrupt”, “Henrietta State lands must be returned”, “PPP Government misuse PetroCaribe deal fund” and “Corrupt officers must be jailed.”
One rice farmer who requested not to be named said he is owed some $3M, while another is lamenting proper drainage. He said that while many farmers’ crops have died as a result of the flooded rice lands due to persistent rainfall, farmers especially in the front lands are being affected severely by poor drainage.
Last year Essequibo rice farmers staged numerous protests decrying late and non-payments, poor dockage and weight and launched the call for the removal of Jagnarine and Seeraj.
Rice farming is the major economic activity in Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam).
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