Rice farmers challenge legality of Region 5 land rent increases

Oct 30, 2019 News

A dispute is raging between farmers and the Mahaica/Mahaicony/Abary Agricultural Development Authority (MMA-ADA), which controls thousands of acres of lands in the Region 5 area.

The rice farmers, their lawyer and others yesterday at the Mahaicony Magistrate’s Court.

Yesterday, about 50 rice farmers appeared with their lawyers at the Mahaicony Magistrate’s Court.
The Rice Assessment Committee had summoned the farmers for increases in land rents and drainage and irrigation charges.
According to attorney-at-law, Anil Nandlall, not only is the committee illegal but the new rents are astronomical.
“On the one hand, while floodwaters continue to ravage their homes, their farms/rice crops and their livelihood without any assistance from the Government, on the other hand, the Government, through the Mahaica Mahaicony Abary Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA), hauled some 50 rice farmers before the Rice Assessment Committee, this morning, at the Mahaicony Magistrate’s Court for the non-payment of illegally imposed astronomical increases in land rents and drainage and irrigation charges.”
He said he appeared for the rice farmers and made the preliminary objection that the Rice Assessment Committee is illegal, and therefore has no jurisdiction to determine the applications filed by the MMA/ADA.
“The basis for this application was explained to the Committee…” Nandlall explained.
The matters were adjourned to November 12th, 2019, on which date the commission will rule on the objections and submissions made.
Also present at the hearing was Dharamkumar Seeraj, General Secretary of the Guyana Rice Producers Association (RPA).
The MMA-ADA says it has found thousands of acres being held under irregular circumstances by farmers.
Many farmers have migrated, leaving their lands in the hands of other parties.
Large sections of the area were sold over the years, illegally, to large rice farmers.
In the meantime, MMA-ADA claims, it has been receiving a mere pittance in rent to look after the drainage and irrigation of thousands of acres.

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