I wish to respond to a letter penned by Mervyn Williams regarding the reorganization of the extension service within the Ministry of Agriculture `Tenured employment of crops and livestock employees to be ended’ in yesterday’s Stabroek News.
Why can’t some politicians just make up their mind what they want and what they represent. I recall a few months ago where Mervyn took several swipes at the Ministry of Agriculture’s extension service stating that it’s poor and unreliable and not being able to reach out to farmers. In summary, the Agriculture Ministry at that time responded that efforts are being made to improve this service.
Now plans and strategies are being rolled out by the Ministry, Mr. Mervyn Williams is not pleased and the whole issue is now being politicized. In relation to the instructions that were given to the CCLO by the Director of NARI, I do agree to an extent due to the sensitive nature of the issue that the appropriate officer should have issued the instruction. However, I am sure that the content of the instructions would not have changed and thus Mervyn’s claims are not relevant.
The outburst by Mervyn is not the least surprising as he seeks to politicize this matter to gain attention and continue the misinformation campaign. Sir, when farmers demanded improvement of the extension services Mervyn provided some support and now wants to jeopardize the thousands of farmers from accessing improved technical and other support. What is Mervyn really interested in? Cheap politics or moving Guyana forward?
Once again, Mervyn chooses to jump on a crooked limb to dampen the transformation of the extension services which is long overdue, however, timely. The move to reorganize the extension service will put an end to some of the shortcomings in the delivery of service to farmers which Minister Persaud publicly highlighted on numerous occasions.
Mervyn went on to rant and rave about the poor response by the extension services in dealing with the plantain/banana disease a few months ago where he stated and I quote “Unlike the Minister, Mr Robert Persaud, his officers are not visible in the fields.” As was published in the Kaieteur News on January 19, 2010. Further, I wish to highlight that the reorganization is aimed at some of the very inefficiencies that Mervyn cited.
I end with a popular and appropriate quote “Damned if you do, damned if you don’t”.
Yours faithfully,
Terence William
Extension Officer (rtd)
