Dear Editor,
I refer to an article published in the Kaiteur News of March 28 entitled ‘Rice miller owes millions to the Charity – Zorg-en-Vlygt WUA in rates, taxes.’
This announcement was made by Mr Lackhan Lall, Chairman of the Water Users Association (WUA) since 2006, in the RDC boardroom. It was very important and was welcomed by all, and was good for the media. However I hope and trust as a member of the WUA that Mr Lall knows that some of the big rice farmers in the downstream areas in Bounty Hall, Better Success, Better Hope, La Resource, Maria‘s Delight and Somerset and Berks owe hundreds of millions but their names were put on hold by giving arrears deductions for labour in relation to works in the downstream area.
This labour concession to these big farmers was given unknown to the WUA Board members, and was a source of conflict among the members that caused the WUA secretary to resign, saying that the WUA was operating outside its by-laws and was allowing irregularities and discrepancies.
The WUA has one paid staff member at the office in Anna Regina, and she is doing a good job as a rate collector/typist, while administration falls under the Region 2 Vice-Chairman, and overseers and rangers from the D&I Department, who are responsible for monitoring the main conservancy level and the high dams and all regulators.
According to Mr Lall, rice miller Mr Kayman Sankar‘s establishment owes $12M as rates and taxes but he failed to mention several others. However, I want the media and the public to know that some who are indebted to the WUA by millions have been given a labour rate for works, although who is to assess these works given the questions about the WUA malfunctioning.
Farmers are seeking to have an audit of the WUA to ascertain who is the clerical assistant receiving a monthly salary, given there is only one staff member, while WUA Board members receive a stipend and travelling.
Yours faithfully,
Pooran Persaud
Member WUA