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.
Mustapha noted that Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo sat with the affected millers and rice farmers and listened to their concerns, and that representation was made so that rice farmers could be paid.
Over $1.5 billion was owed to rice farmers in Guyana.
The payments brought immense relief to the farmers and millers who had been waiting since 2015. Sukhai (only name given), a rice farmer owed millions, described the payout as a miracle.
And rice miller Wazir Hussain expressed gratitude to the government, “I am happy to have finally received my money and thank the government for their support.”
Many farmers, who had nearly lost hope of being compensated, praised the administration for its decisive action.