After nearly a decade of uncertainty, 27 rice farmers and five millers owed outstanding monies for rice sold to Venezuela and Panama in 2015 have finally received payments totalling $437 million.
Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha who handed over the cheques yesterday, credited the current government for resolving the longstanding issue. He explained that over $1.5 billion was owed to farmers and millers under the Panama and PetroCaribe rice deals, and that the PPP/C who were in opposition at the time had listened to the farmers’ plight and made representations.
He sharply criticised the previous administration for neglecting the matter, saying that they regarded the rice industry as being in private hands.
