The magistrate, police said in a press statement yesterday, advised that Singh should have been warned to attend court first and if he failed to do so after a warning then an arrest warrant could be issued for him. “This is despite the fact that the police were unable to arrest Ishwas Singh,” police noted.
For almost a year, MRL has owed more than 100 farmers over $300 million for paddy supplied to them during the first crop last year. As a result of complaints made by farmers, police reported, the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) intervened and, as provided for in the law, went to inspect the records of MRL but was denied access. Police said: “This matter was reported to the police who after conducting investigations and following advice given by the Director of Public Prosecution subsequently charged Ishwas Singh, the accountant of the company, for refusing a person identified by the GRDB permission to inspect the books of the company.”
Despite efforts, police said, they have been unable to locate and arrest Ishwas Singh.
The charge was laid against Singh in his absence at the Mahaicony Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Continuous efforts, police said, are being made to locate the man.
Meanwhile, on December 12, 2010, a paid advertisement in the Guyana Chronicle announced that MRL’s General Manager Taramatie Ghani was being sought by farmers. Ghani was also asked to report to police at Mahaicony but never did so and officials from the GRDB, Ministry of Agriculture and police have been trying to locate the woman since.
Attorney R. N. Poonai is representing MRL.
In a recent correspondence with the Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud, the attorney stated that MRL “as the largest rice miller in Guyana remains committed to the development of the rice industry and to the payment of the farmers.”
However, Poonai said MRL expressed concern to him that “their efforts to obtain the necessary financial support is being constantly impeded by statements made in the media, the most recent one concerning the renewal of the licence and the publication of a photograph of the General Manager, who has done no wrong.”
