Rice is here to stay
An elderly resident of the Cinderella County receives an award from Prime Minister Nagamootoo
An elderly resident of the Cinderella County receives an award from Prime Minister Nagamootoo

–Nagamootoo tells Essequibians

By Alva Solomon
GUYANA and Mexico are expected to finalise rice discussions in another five weeks and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo has assured Essequibo Coast residents yesterday that they have the full backing of the government regarding rice-payment issues they encounter with millers.

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and his wife Sita soon after their arrival by ferry
Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and his wife Sita soon after their arrival by ferry

The rice industry plays a vital role in the lives of residents and they turned out in large numbers yesterday as the Prime Minister and a delegation of ministers interacted with them at the Anna Regina Multilateral School.
Minister in the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Valerie Garrido-Lowe, Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan and Agriculture Minister Noel Holder, along with regional officials addressed the gathering.
The Prime Minister, who was visiting the region for the first time since being elected following the May elections, told the gathering that “Essequibo is rice and rice is Essequibo,” dispelling suggestions from some that farmers are leaving the market because of the issues they encounter.
Mr Nagamootoo said there are issues such as leasing of lands and payments for these and urged the farmers to visit the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission offices in Essequibo to negotiate for outstanding payments.
He said the commercial banks should also pay attention to the developments and issues affecting the industry and how these affect farmers. As regards payments from millers, the Prime Minister suggested that farmers be acquainted with the law regarding their payments and along this line he noted that government will play a supporting role in the issue of payments.
“So rice is here to stay,” the Prime Minister said, pointing out that the grain is in demand the world over. He also urged them to adopt diversification practices on their farm lands, such as cattle and coconut farming, adding that it is within the capacity of farmers to follow these entrepreneurial ideas.

A section of the audience at yesterday’s meeting
A section of the audience at yesterday’s meeting

He also urged them to pursue agro-processing.
“I would like to see a minister of government coming to Essequibo once every month,” he told the gathering, attracting loud cheers.
He informed residents that Minister of Business Dominic Gaskin presides over the Low Carbon Development Strategy, and according to him, he would like to see interactions between residents and that ministry to their benefit.
As regards the Mexico deal, which he has been personally involved in for several weeks, Prime Minister Nagamootoo said he recently received correspondence from the Mexicans as a reminder of their discussions on trade.
Those discussions will conclude in another five weeks. “Mexico will be a very good player with our rice industry,” he said, noting that rice is exported to some 38 countries globally from these shores.

CONDEMNATION
To this end, the Prime Minister was vociferous in his condemnation of assertions from incumbent Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro on his claims to Essequibo. He said the Venezuelan leader shut himself away from the Guyanese farmers when the PetroCaribe deal fell apart.

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo is greeted by students of the Anna Regina Multilateral School, soon after he arrived there for the meeting yesterday
Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo is greeted by students of the Anna Regina Multilateral School, soon after he arrived there for the meeting yesterday

“The same way that he has judged us that his own people should judge and condemn him for his exertions,” he said of Maduro who faces the polls this weekend.
While in Mexico, the Prime Minister said he informed the government there that Venezuela was always in the forefront in condemning the economic blockade against Cuba, but is employing such a ploy against Guyana.
“That same Venezuela has decided to practise a criminal blockade against a small neighbour, a neighbour with a small population, with a small military,” he said.

Earlier, Agriculture Minister Noel Holder while providing an update on the sector, told the gathering that the nation has to move its economic base away from the coastland and agriculture will play an important part in this regard.
He said the government will attempt to establish agricultural stations in the form of massive demonstration-type structures across the country.
Nationwide, the head stock of cattle which stood at 300,000 some 20 years ago has dropped to head to 77,000, but the Guyana Livestock Development Authority is working to build back the national herd.

DAIRY PLANT
A dairy plant to process milk as well as education on the sector’s developmental goals and processes are among the issues being pursued to advance the sector.
Mr Holder touched briefly on the rice industry and according to him, rice farmers have been facing difficult times, while the figures for production have been on the increasing end.
He said the government holds the small farmers in Region 2 “dearly to heart.”
Meanwhile, Minister Bulkan spoke on the issue of Local Government Elections which are slated for next year March.
He said Guyana is too large to be managed from the capital city and noted that the Constitution recognises this. This is why there is a framework for efficient administration of the country, he added.
He spoke of centralisation and decentralisation of governance to the levels of the community, towns and villages
“There is a fundamental administration difference between this administration and the one that preceded it,” Bulkan said, adding that the government has no plans to dictate the decisions in management of the nation.
He said Local Government Elections will not solve all the problems, but will be a “meaningful system of local democracy. ”
For this, he suggested the need for periodic elections so that persons can be more involved in the democratic process.
But most importantly, he said, central government has to allow all local democratic organs to work independently. “That is even more important in my opinion,” Bulkan said.
Minister Lowe, while explaining her mandate within the Indigenous People’s Affairs Ministry, informed those gathered that anyone could pay her a visit on any matter of concern.
She said the government is one which is democratic in nature, and as such, she is open to listening to matters of interest.
Residents raised several issues of concern during the interactive session with the Prime Minister and ministers of government and were given assurance that their issues will be addressed.
Yesterday’s visit was held under the theme “Rally around Guyana “ and stickers as well as posters lined the Essequibo Coast with the words “Essequibo is we own” in full display.
The Prime Minister was garlanded on his arrival by ferry at the Good Hope Stelling at dawn and he remained busy for the remainder of the day during the visit to the Cinderella County.

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