Region Six will get first preference for the setting up of any new rice mills given the peculiar disadvantage at which the Region’s rice farmers find themselves, said General Manager of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) Jagnarine Singh. For years, rice farmers in Berbice have been plagued by late payments and have been placed at a major disadvantage for reinvesting and preparing for subsequent crops. Not only Mahaicony Rice, but other millers have the habit of withholding payment to rice farmers until they themselves receive payment from the overseas buyers of their rice.
On delinquency in payment to rice farmers, Singh said that his entity is still in discussion with Mahaicony Rice Mills and is willing to take the miller to court if necessary. “We are open to anyone who is willing to take them to court,” he said, indicating that two of the larger rice farmers have already done so, leading to a settlement being arrived at by the parties. One of these larger millers was owed in the vicinity of $20 million. “For us to go to court a couple of small farmers need to come forward. We will pay all the legal fees, even your passage to Georgetown and lunch money,” he said.
Singh told the farmers that the owner for Mahaicony Rice was overseas but the signing of cheques for the payment of farmers for their paddy was left in the hands of an office clerk, whom the farmers have accused of issuing bad cheques. He explained that this in itself is a criminal offence and that the clerk could be held culpable. But he said that the people who have received cheques for which there are no funds in the account on which it is drawn need to come forward with a view to pursuing prosecution.
An amendment to the Rice Factories Act, tabled in the National Assembly in July, seeks to ensure that rice farmers are paid on a timely basis. When passed, it will mandate delinquent rice millers to lodge a security deposit which can be used to meet their obligations to farmers, should the need arise.

The security deposit may be utilized for the compliance of the conditions, the fulfillment of obligations of the failure by the manufacturers to pay the value of paddy to any producer after the expiry of 60 days from the date of the supply of paddy.

The security deposit will be ten percent of the value of the paddy purchased during the previous year and this must be placed in a non-interest bearing account of the Board. The deposit can also be a bank guarantee for 25 per cent of the value of the paddy purchased in the previous year. According to the legislation, if a miller over the preceding three years has been consistently fulfilling his obligation, that miller will not be made to comply with the security deposit provision.

Singh said that the GRDB and the Ministry of Agriculture are trying to encourage millers in Region Five to come to Region Six and said that one of the best ways of getting out of the fix that they are in with Mahaicony rice is to sell their paddy to other millers. He said that the cost of transporting their paddy to Region Five will be cost effective given that the Berbice Bridge is in operation. He also advised the farmers to make use of the Lesbeholden drying facility and explore the possibility of exporting their paddy directly to buyers in Venezuela.

Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud said Black Bush Polder has been receiving the attention of the administration and that money is being spent in the community to enhance drainage and irrigation and to provide for roads.

During the visit yesterday, Minister Persaud said that the administration encouraged stakeholders to take a deep interest in the infrastructural works being executed in the community so that they are delivered according to specifications.

He expressed the hope that the $600 million project in Black Bush Polder will set the stage for further developments in the scheme for the benefit of farmers and residents. He said that very soon invitation for bids will be advertised in the local press for the construction of control structures.

The Minister also stated that the authorities will be working with cattle farmers and other crop farmers and will be addressing the allocation of land through the process of repossession.

The Minister said that the passage of the last amendment to the Rice Factories Act has been delayed so that there can be further consultation on its provisions. He said that this law was tabled because of the vital importance of the rice industry to the country. But similar protective measures will be considered for other crops and fisher folk.
At the meeting, which took place in Yakusari, Black Bush Polder, farmers and other residents expressed their concerns and stated their positions on many issues that affected them, especially in the areas of drainage and irrigation, but also in the areas of land tenure and fresh water supply from the Guyana Water Incorporated.
Speaking to residents and farmers at the meeting, Chairman of Region Six Regional Democratic Council Zulficar Mustapha said that all of the dams in the community will be addressed and stated that the contract for the roads have been awarded. In addition to the roads and the dams, rice farmers called for a drying floor for the drying of rice.
On issues of potable water bills being high, Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Water Inc., Yuri Chandisingh, said that since residents are now metered, water use is recorded and should they be irresponsible in their usage of the commodity, then the bills will reflect that. He said that residents should not continue their old habits of being irresponsible with water like the days of old, when there was one standard fixed rate, regardless of the amount of water used. He advised too that residents with billing and other customer complaints call 227 8701 and make a report, since this is the only mechanism through which problems can be addressed at the water utility. He advised them to make a note of the reference number given to them on calling the customer hotline, since this is their receipt that they have made a complaint through the right channels.
On the issue of paddy bug infestation, Singh said extension officers will be making visits to farmers to speak with them on ways of dealing with it.
Addressing farmers and residents at the meeting, Chief Executive Officer of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) Lionel Wordsworth said that work is currently being executed in East Black Bush Polder and that it is being done in two components, and that the works are about 70 percent complete. He said that the NDIA has six excavators and one bulldozer in operation to carry out the needed works. He said that in addition to these equipment, two draglines will be added for the completion of works that cannot be done by excavators.
Pic: DSC 0031/Black Bush/All Photos/Graphics
Caption: Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud (left) and Regional Chairman of Region Six Zulficar Mustapha (right) at the meeting with farmers and residents of Yakusari, Black Bush Polder yesterday. At rear (left to right) are General Manager of the Guyana Rice Development Board Jagnarine Singh, and CEO of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) Lionel Wordsworth.