I am prompted to respond to the missive by Michael Maxwell in the Tuesday edition of Stabroek News which stated that “The rice deal with Venezuela does not involve a money transfer; the Guyanese taxpayer will be paying rice farmers.”
Mr. Maxwell’s political and racial insinuations are nothing far from the PNCR’s mantra to spread political instability and misconceptions of positive developments within our country. The spirit of the Guyanese people is not blinded and will not fall prey to Mr. Maxwell or his handlers’ concoction to spread disunity.

As a rice farmer, I see myself playing a very important role towards the development of Guyana, unlike Michael Maxwell who seems bent on castigating the government and the rice farmers of this country for accessing a market with premium prices for our paddy.

I am not sure about the repayments of any debt to Venezuela, but I am pleased to say that my paddy is being exported through a miller to Venezuela earning a better price. And for the benefit of Mr. Maxwell, even my farmhands have benefitted from this increase in price, so the increase in prices for paddy is transferred to the ordinary man.

From the misinformation penned by Michael Maxwell; he is suggesting that the rice industry does not make economic sense, should we close the rice industry down. Will Mr. Maxwell provide food and income for the thousands that depend on this important sector? I think not. Today, the rice industry is more competitive than ever, farmers have been increasing yields and bringing new acreages under cultivation despite the many challenges that weather and other external and international factors that hinder the industry.

Rice Farmers have a strong will to persevere and succeed to ensure a good crop at the end of the day to put rice on the plates of the likes of Michael Maxwell. As such, I would like to challenge Mr. Maxwell to come in the fields and interact with rice farmers to get a true appreciation of what it’s like to be a rice farmer, rather than rant and rave of how this country‘s taxpayers are paying rice farmers. I wonder how much tax Mr. Maxwell is paying and what his meaningful contribution to the Guyanese people is.

I strongly believe that Michael Maxwell has been misguided by his handlers because of the the inaccurate and ludicrous information and assumptions which he used to base his argument. I end with saying that the development of Guyana has to do with seeing the big picture not who is PPP, PNC and any other political party, and this is what Michael Maxwell fails to realise.