RPA taking legal action over $50M owed farmers
THE General Secretary, Mr. Dharamkumar Seeraj announced, on Wednesday, that the Rice Producers Association (RPA) will take Mahaicony Rice Mills (MRM) and businessman Arnold Sankar to Court in the quest to recover some $50M owed to farmers for paddy sold nine months ago.
Addressing dozens of farmers in the Anna Regina Regional Boardroom, on Essequibo Coast, Seeraj said the situation is a very serious one because they have not received payment, from MRM and Sankar, since the end of the Spring crop in March.
Seeraj said the RPA will buy over the debt and make part payment to farmers before Christmas.
He said farmers must photocopy their paddy sales documents and submit them to Guyana Rice Development Board (GDB) at Anna Regina, so that the RPA can begin its legal action.
Seeraj said MRM and Sankar will be sued jointly for the money due.
Seeraj said he and GRDB General Manager, Mr. Jagnarine Singh, who was also at Anna Regina, met Mr. Jaibaney of MRM recently, in Trinidad, while they were en route to Venezuela to look at markets for paddy and the miller claimed that the farmers produce was sold to supermarkets overseas, on credit and he, too, is owed $340M.
However, Seeraj said the miller showed them no evidence that the supermarkets are indebted to him, although he had been asked to do so.
As a result, he speculated that the miller might have utilised the proceeds for other purposes.
Chairman of Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam), Mr. Alli Baksh said the farmers should recognise the efforts of the government to assist them in times of crisis.
Meantime, he said the RPA and GRDB are exploring every area to help farmers.
Seeraj said tough decisions will be made for farmers to be paid and the issue will be discussed with the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Robert Persaud.