In its latest diatribe against the legitimate RPA and its General-Secretary, Mr. Dharamkumar Seeraj, Mr. Jinnah Rahaman, who identifies himself as the spokesperson of this bastardised body, has accused Seeraj as “playing silly politics with the livelihood of rice farmers,” and that the RPA has remained silent on the issue of paddy prices and of blaming the global economic crisis for the low prices of paddy while offering no solution to the problems facing farmers.

And he is issuing these statements in conjunction with a discredited rice miller and Norris Witter – Witter, for Heavens sake.

Are the rice farmers absolutely stupid that they are not aware of what is happening in the trading world overseas? And are they that stupid that Seeraj, or anybody else, should have to teach them like “lil dunce pickneys” that problems of that magnitude will ultimately affect the viability of industry and small economies such as ours?

The RPA has strongly posited that rice farmers should be paid $4,000 per bag for paddy, but neither does Seeraj, nor the RPA, own rice mills.

However their representation has resulted in the government reducing the rice levy by 60% so that millers could be able to offer farmers more for their paddy, along with other interventions, of which the farmers are aware.

The government continues to seek ways and strategise in efforts to minimise the impacts to Guyanese rice farmers and at an RPA-sponsored meeting at Windsor Forest, the Minister of Agriculture and experts in the sector apprised farmers of the global challenges and of the continuous interventions the government has been making to inhibit negative impacts to the farming community. The minister has promised that the government will spend an additional $800 million above what has been budgeted and is currently being spent in the sector.

This approachable minister spent hours rapping with farmers, listening to their problems, telling them what is achievable and what could and would be addressed immediately and what would have to wait awhile because of financial and other constraints. What has Witter and the administration that he supported ever done for the rice industry in Guyana that he can now come and “play silly politics,” in collaboration with those sponsoring Rahaman and the discredited rice miller who has now appointed himself “champion” of rice farmers, even though he still owes millions to rice farmers?

The track records of none of these men can bear scrutiny, in any facet of their lives, but I will tell of the track record of the young man whom they viciously vilify because he sincerely champions the rice farmers, with no hidden agenda, which is no hearsay but my own experience of the measure of the person.

Seeraj, who lives in the same street as I and whom I have peripherally known during my years of association with the RPA, protected me and gave me a job when I was being ostracised by even my friends because I was mother-in-law of treason accused Mark Benschop. I know what he would have faced with his championing of my cause, but this principled young man is fearless when he feels he is doing what is right, so he does not “play silly politics”–either in his personal life, nor in his professional life, and I think it is utter contempt that some persons who are demons in disguise as humans should try to destroy someone who has attained a level in society to which they aspire, without being worthy.

I need open skies and solitude to function at optimum capacity and, while working at my desk or on my verandah, from which the street is visible, I would see Seeraj flying in and out at all hours to meet his many professional responsibilities in service to the rice sector and the greater community. Since I have joined the RPA I have grown to respect Seeraj even more, and I know how absolutely committed he is to the development of the rice sector and the country as a whole, and he knows more than anyone that if the farmer cannot produce the entire sector, and the economy of the country will suffer dire consequences, so he relentlessly pursues strategies to sustain the viability of the industry.

I recently wrote that Dr Jagan was a loving husband and a wonderful father, and so is Seeraj. He cooks, he washes, he cleans, and he is very devoted to his wife Bibi – a Moslem whose holidays he shares equally as he does his own as a Hindu. They have brought up two very mannerly, high-achieving children in whom they have inculcated very high values. There are a mere handful of persons for whom I still retain respect. Seeraj is one of those on the top of my list. This young man has far to go, because he is competent, caring, honest, and, most important of all, he has the courage to stand firm to his convictions.

A million Witters, Rahamans, and those behind the scenes cannot measure up to one Seeraj, who always lends an ear to someone in need and reaches out to the vulnerable with concrete help.

One Jinnah destroyed the unity of India and another one is trying to destroy the unity of the RPA.
PARVATI PERSAUD-EDWARDS