A PARTNERSHIP for National Unity (APNU) Councillor of Region 2 Regional Democratic Council, Mr. Wazir Latiff has condemned the protest and blocking of the Essequibo Coast public road by some rice farmers last Friday night.

Speaking at the statutory meeting of council on Tuesday, Mr. Latiff said the disgraceful and shameless protest and blocking of the public road at Three Friends and Land of Plenty should have never been allowed to take place.
The opposition councillor said he heard that the protest last Friday night was filled with vulgarity and disgraceful behaviour by  some farmers. He said farmers should have taken their protest to the millers who owed them large sums for their paddy rather than block the public road and behave in a disgraceful manner.
The APNU councillor said rice farmers have an option to take the millers to court for their money through the free legal service offered by Government at the Guyana Rice Development Board office but they do not want to utilize the service.

The councillor said that before a  protest is allowed to go ahead it must be examined carefully to find out if there are other avenues to address the problems. He said rice farmers had an option to take the millers to court free of cost through the GRDB rather than to protest and block the public road.
PPP/C Councillor Ms. Juliet Coonjah speaking at the meeting said AFC Councillor Mr. Naithram who behaved in a disgraceful and shameless manner and allegedly stripped his clothing in full view of the public during the Friday night protest is not fit to be a councillor on the Region 2 Regional Democratic Council. While speaking, she held up a copy of the Kaieteur News, Saturday 5th July, 2014 edition, which shows a picture of the naked councillor on the front page.

(By Rajendra Prabhulall)