I would like to comment on a letter written by Jinnah Rahman in the Monday, May 9, 2011 edition of Stabroek News to once again make outrageous and unsubstantiated claims to draw attention to him and to fulfil his own cheap political agenda. Jinnah is so out of touch with the realities of the rice sector and the economy as a whole, so much so that his letter is ridiculous and riddled with inaccuracies based on his own opinion. As a rice farmer for over 25 years without abandoning Guyana as Jinnah did, I am living proof of progress within the rice industry. This is despite weather, fuel prices and other deterrents that he claims  crippled the sector. However, he chooses to be ignorant on the numerous interventions and other support that have been provided to the rice sector by the government.
Jinnah has been sour since his return to Guyana about his non-acceptance within the RPA(Rice Producers Association) membership. Ever since he has been running around as a “prophet of doom”, then proclaiming himself as a saviour of the rice and other industries.
We the farmers are not out of touch with the realities of the rice sector and cannot be fooled by Jinnah’s cheap antics to get attention. As such I would like to point out to Jinnah that the rice industry benefited from dam preparations, excavation works, support in drainage and irrigation, fertilizer, seed paddy, fuel and other support over the past few years. Jinnah should avoid painting a portrait of gloom for the rice industry; anyone who is interested in the facts can just drive around any rice-growing area and see the development and prosperity being churned out from a progressing rice sector. Plucking out statistics from the air will not change the reality on the ground and we the rice farmers and citizens of Guyana can see through your charade. Mr. Rahman and his handlers must be apprised of the developments within the sector rather than make foolish assumptions.
Jinnah should not express his experiences as a failed farmer and make them representative for the entire rice industry. We the rice farmers of a thriving sector are tired of your misrepresentation to create public and political mischief. Mr. Rahman, please stop peddling lies and stick to the facts if you truly want the support and respect of rice farmers.