Are the right people in charge of the Agriculture Ministry and associated agencies?

Jan 28, 2021 Letters

Dear Editor,

I commend Dr. Vishnu Bisram for his letters (KN Jan 21 and 25) on the importance of agriculture in the economy and the findings of his opinion poll on the agricultural sector of the economy. Indeed, agriculture is very critical for development, and it should never be belittled or marginalized in favor of the more romantic emerging oil sector. But are the right people put in charge of the Agriculture Ministry and associated or related agencies to guide and promote development. Is agriculture moving in the right direction? Is a disaster in the making in the agricultural sector? Is Zulfikar Mustapha the right person as Minister given his past as Chair in Region 6? Is Peter Ramsaroop the right person for Goinvest? Is Sase Singh the right person to head Guysuco? Is Nizam Hassan the right person to lead GRDB? Is Robert Persaud the right person to head diaspora investment? There are also questions about some other personnel. Do these figures have the requisite skills and competence for the tasks ahead? Will this government contract or appoint new individuals of integrity, competence, and skill? There are reported bottlenecks at GRDB and Goinvest. How will they be resolved? Known APNU and AFC agents have displaced loyalists and qualified individuals in government positions at various ministries. Will investors or contractors have to pay bribes to do business or get approval for their plan from various Ministers as happened in the past?

Other than clearing some drains and quickly tending to flooding in several areas, work mostly done by private contractors, nothing much has been happening in agriculture and related agencies. To his credit, the Minister is moving around and is very active on the ground. But there are no new projects to instill confidence in agriculture or the economy as a whole. There is a lot of public relations stunt but no real private investment in agriculture or any in any sector of the economy.

After many months, there is no clear direction at Guysuco. The company remains in disarray over management of estates and cultivation. There is lack of confidence in top management. Staff is not pleased with Sase Singh’s leadership. The General Manager of Skeldon has resigned. Enmore Estate is not in the news when it was supposed to be the first estate to be rehabilitated. The public needs to know why. Was the Enmore land sold or given out?
And what is behind tractors deal? Is anyone benefiting from a planned deal?
In agriculture and in other ministries, it appears that nothing much has changed in terms of public perception from when the PPP was removed from office in 2015. It is a continuation from where it left off. In looking at various ministries, government agencies, and boards, a set of tainted, discredited figures have been brought back. They were the individuals who cost PPP support in the 2011 and 2015 elections. The party learned nothing from its mistakes. Is it back to kickbacks and grafts from the same individuals who have been brought back and even some Ministers? There are rumours of Ministers bold enough to send senior staff as bag men to uplift fees from various contractors to secure favorable awards. Senior staff seems embarrassed complaining about the situation. Is it back to the same routine?

Yours truly,
Haresh Singh Kumar

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Are the right people in charge of the Agriculture Ministry and associated agencies?

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