Notwithstanding the promise of the bailout they had requested, Essequibo rice farmers yesterday declared that if their demands for certain changes in that region are not met they will once again take to the streets to protest.
“If we do not get justice we are going back to the streets. We want transparency,” Taijpersaud Seecharran, a rice farmer, yesterday told a news conference as he highlighted and updated the press on issues faced by his fellow farmers.
The farmers, numbering hundreds, had been protesting since April 17, calling on the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) to be more involved in the everyday problems they faced such as pricing consistency for their crop. They also stated that they wanted better representation from the Rice Producers Association (RPA) to ensure they are not short-changed by millers.
In addition, rice farmers had outlined various concerns; the current grading system used by millers to designate paddy prices being one of the most crucial.
Other areas that needed addressing included the tackling of an infestation and the poor quality of chemicals sold to them. The farmers pleaded that government urgently address their concerns.
“We are saying in no uncertain terms that we are being robbed by the millers… We need to look at the grading systems…, as it is the millers are not implementing the grading system,” Seecharan explained.
Minister of Agriculture, Dr Leslie Ramsammy had met the farmers and informed that while information was still being gathered, a $500 million first round payment would begin this week. The money is to come from a $2.5 billion government advance under the PetroCaribe agreement.
The farmers said that while they welcomed the money promised, they still needed core issues addressed as they felt that relying on government to bail them out of every failed season was economically challenging.
“We are looking at a long-term something… Every time will it be the same thing? The minister/ministry is trying to out the fire without taking care of the power line that cause the fire,” one farmer stated.
In addition they stated that they had expected more from the persons sent by the minister and were disappointed when they were told that they would not be actively involved in planning a way forward. “How does the agriculture department [which doesn’t] have a clue find a solution? Unless we tell them our problems they won’t know our problems. You can’t put a cow doctor to do a heart surgery,” the farmer said.
