KINDLY allow me space in your newspaper letter columns to make my comments on an article published in the Kaieteur News, 28-03-2012 , page 6 entitled Rice miller owes millions to the Charity-Zorg-en-Vlugt WUA as rates and taxes. This announcement by Mr Lackhan Lall Chairman of the WUA since 2006 in the RDC boardroom, was a very important announcement made for one individual and was welcomed by all and was good for the media.
However, I hope and trust as a member of this WUA that Mr Lackhan Lall knows well that the big rice farmers in the downstream areas in Bounty Hall, Better Success, Better Hope, La Resource, Maria Delight and Somerset and Berks owe hundreds of millions but these names were put on hold.
This WUA is operating with no paid staff at the office at Anna Regina, and the lady there is doing a good job as a rate collector/typist, while the administrative section is done by the Region Two Vice Chairman. Overseers and rangers from the D&I Department are responsible for the monitoring of the main conservancy level of the water and the high level dams and all regulators.
According to Mr Lackhan Lall, big rice millers and rice farmers owe substantial amounts in rates and taxes to the establishment.