I am appalled and quite taken back by the tone of Miss David of the PTCCB response to the letter written Mr. L.H. Semple on the backtrack chemicals that dominates the agriculture  chemicals market in Guyana. Sir, a nation’s agriculture sector should never be affected and retarded to a large extent by the officials, like Miss David. Yes! Those officials, who believe that the ordinary farmer or the poor and powerless dare not comment, express opinions or even criticize institutions like the PTCCB despite the tremendous failings, mistakes and blatant inefficiencies that continues to stifle the agriculture  sector in this country.
Sir, I wish to ask this “Servant of the people” why all the venom on this farmer, when it is clear for all in the nation, especially those of us who lived in the agriculture  belt to see that Mr. Semple was simply expressing the concerns of many farmers. Sir, indeed the truth hurts and for those at the PTCCB it hurts to the bone.
Sir, if what Mr. Semple said is not true, then how does Miss David and the PTCCB explain to this nation the reason for backtrack chemicals being sold freely in markets along the agricultural belt, under the nose of this body?
Sir, let Miss David inform this nation whether the PTCCB have a functioning laboratory. How long it has been in use and how long the laboratory equipment came into the country and were or still lay idle waiting on Santa rather than being put in to full use for the benefits of the taxpayers whose hard earn money paid for them.
Sir, let Miss David tell this nation’s taxpayers and her bosses where those training programmes were held and state the names of some of the stake holders that attended these seminars or better put drink up sessions? Also ask Miss David if it is not true that most of the time the PTCCB would “piggyback” on the RPA’s founded activities by sharing out chemicals to those farmers and return days later to farmers and gather information to these farmers on the results from their usage? Miss David would be the first that these sessions are just pamphlets sharing exercise with no field work. If Mr. Semple is wrong, show the nation a list of farms where the various field test and training were done.
Sir, why don’t the PTCCB invite the media along with the knowledgeable stakeholders to witness the operations of its lab so as to prove the effectiveness and capability of this body that is funded by taxpayers of this country?
Yes! While stakeholders and the media are at NARI facilities the PTCCB can show the media some of the results of test done on agricultural chemicals imported in to the country.  If this is not possible because constraints beyond the Board’s control then allow the media along with stakeholders to take a look at the records of tests that were carried out on imported chemicals into this country.
Sir, Mr. Semple is on the ball when he expressed the fact that this body is bureaucratic and sadly out of touch with the agriculture sector. If it is true that this Board is not in a deep comma and it is working with the GRA and Bass to reduce the incidence of smuggled chemicals to farmers in Guyana. Then let Miss David and the Board publish a list of the names of those who were prosecuted over the last five years sop that we can see their effectiveness in the agriculture sector.
Sir, I believe Mr. Semple’s estimate of 53% of the market share for agricultural chemicals are controlled by backtrackers is very generous to find failed government organization.
It is common knowledge to all except Miss David and her Board that the backtrackers are now teaming up with the millers by supplying them with the cheap back track chemicals which they dump upon the poor farmers who credit everything from millers until his paddy is reap.
Finally, I believe that our hard working and energetic Minister of Agriculture should launch an investigation in to this section of his Ministry that brings in no income into the country. So as to evaluate its relevance and benefits to our steadily growing agriculture sector
Sir, I humbly suggest that the Honourable Minister close this unit for now until a proper investigation has been carried out, or at least bring it under the control of the research station at BURMA or the analysis department, etc.
It is only then, government officials like Miss David will understand that little is accomplished by the assault on the integrity or credibility of our hard working farmers who keep people like her in employment.
Sir, I look forward to Mr. Semple’s reply.