Ramsammy pledges to secure payment for rice farmers
THE Ministry of Agriculture is doing all that it can to ensure that the farmers who are owed monies by Mahaicony Rice Millers (MRM) receive payment. Minister with the portfolio, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy gave the undertaking in a recent telephone interview with the Guyana Chronicle, to give an update on the situation.
He said MRM recently made payments to a small number of farmers but there are many others still owed.
“After my last statement, a small number was paid by MRM but they have not cleared all that they owed… We are doing all that we can to make sure that these rice farmers are paid,” Ramsammy stated.
Just last month, the newly appointed Agriculture Minister, at a media briefing, expressed concern over the fact that rice farmers countrywide have not been paid for paddy supplied to millers.
He emphasised that, as Agriculture Minister, he would not tolerate errant businessmen who continue to use the farmers as their bankers and labeled the practice as “unethical, immoral and illegal.”
“I have a special message for Mahaicony Rice Millers Limited (MRM)… too many farmers are not being paid for paddy and rice they took from them. I will be an impatient minister when it comes to the payment of our farmers…millers cannot use the rice farmers as their bankers,” Ramsammy reiterated.
Alluding to what measures will be taken if the company fails to fulfill their financial obligations, he said he has advised Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) to “take all the necessary actions’ to ensure that this is done in the interest of the rice farmers.
“The law must be enforced and the Ministry of Agriculture will work with the Rice Producers Association (RPA) and the GRDB and farmers,” Ramsammy pledged
Contacted yesterday, GRDB General Manager, Mr. Jagnarine Singh confirmed that any action taken will be within the confines of the law.
“Legally we can stop their licences… this, as you know, has to be issued annually,” he explained.
In October last year, the Agriculture Ministry intervened on behalf of rice farmers in Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam), who were, collectively, owed close to $29M by MRM and its agents.