CHANGE can sometimes be good and at other times be very detrimental. Some people change for the better and others for the worst. As in the case of what happened recently in my village on the Essequibo Coast, some rice farmers thought it best to change their thinking the moment they were approached by the infamous C.N. Sharma. Assembled outside the Regional Chairman’s office, Mr. Sharma with willful intention totally misled the farmers just to create chaos. I can’t remember which year on the Essequibo Coast I saw rice farmers behaving in this manner. How can a normal television talk show host, who seems to only be a problem instigator, tell farmers that he will get a better price for their paddy? I wonder if he has “changed” his profession from a TV host to a miller/exporter.

He stood there from around 9:00am and kept erroneously telling the farmers that the government can fix prices for their paddy. This is total nonsense. As an old farmer, we have had a taste of price fixing and it’s not something we want to go through again. He then lied to the farmers that the Hon. Minister of Agriculture will be present to meet with them within 9:00 am to 12:00 noon. Everyone knew that the meeting was set for 2:00pm. This was advertised from the Regional Democratic Office level and both television and the newspapers.

It must be noted, however, that the Minister came one hour before the allotted time and commenced the meeting even though the talk show host created a massive confusion in the minds of the farmers. What was evident is that, while the minister was speaking to farmers and the truth of the matter was brought to them, the talk show host and others abandoned the farmers. The truth does hurt. I guess it was very hard for them to “change” their words at this moment. Now who must we believe and who should we listen to?

I must say that the farmers whose minds were earlier “changed” by these so called leaders, did not remain that way for too long. At the end of this meeting and very fruitful discussion with the Minister, all farmers were happy with the outcome of the meeting. It must be noted that this is the not the first time since the Minister has visited the Coast on this matter of rice prices; it’s the third time. We can clearly see that the Minister, unlike others who were there, has our interest at heart. The outcome clearly shows that once we sit and discuss matters of such nature, then we will get good outcome. As a farmer, I am very pleased to know that the price and payments methods were amongst some of the matters that were resolved. These proclaimed leaders who come and create uprising and protests will not bear positive fruits.

My friends-be warned against these agents of change. This was yet another attempt to mislead the people. Long live the rice farmers of this land.
SHAMSHUDEEN KHAN