Rice farmers in Region Two are still owed close to $48 million in total by two leading millers in Region Two for paddy reaped crops ago.
The farmers raised the issue with Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha at a meeting held Thursday afternoon at Anna Regina in the boardroom of the Regional State House.
According to the rice farmers, they are still awaiting word on their payments for their paddy, which they were told was shipped to Panama.
“We are waiting for almost two crops and we need our money. We have families to maintain. We took our paddy to the millers and did not hear back. We have our vouchers and every time we check money is still not available” one of the farmers explained.
In response, Minister Mustapha said that Panama has acknowledged owing the millers.
“There was lots of corruption in Panama, in terms of supplies. What we did as a government, however, we went and started to negotiate to ensure that they accept that they accept that they owe Guyana,” Mustapha said.
He also told the rice farmers that an investigation was launched and he will be working with the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) to ensure that farmers receive their money. He told them to ensure that they make a report to GRDB so that further investigations can be done.
Having heard the minister’s response, the farmers are hoping that the process can be expedited and they can have received their payments. One farmer is owed $28 million while others are owed $19 million. The farmers have also explained that they owe the commercial banks for tractors and other equipment purchased to assist them in the rice fields. They are hoping that their matter is addressed promptly.
