I wish to voice my concerns as it relates to an article in the Friday’s Edition of the Kaieteur News (April 9, 2010). “Peeping Tom” is now hitting on agriculture. I am not amazed at all. I think we all know of the old saying – “yuh behaving like crab in a barrel”. I am very much pushed to think like this because lots of persons, even those in higher offices of my country cannot handle the progress, growth, and development of the Agriculture Sector as well the pace at which it is happening.
The freedom we have in this country that alone, is allowing individuals like Peeping Tom to have a chance to write in the press. If it were other governments or maybe another country (Middle East), I would have been visiting him in prison or attending his funeral, although anonymous for this type of behaviour. That same freedom which you are enjoying all other Guyanese are also enjoying, hence, what the people ask for is what they will get. And in all fairness to the government and it agencies involved in rice and the Guyana Rice Producers’ Association, this is what the farmers asked for.
There were many consultations held and I am quite sure that farmers, like me, would have supported this gesture. We know what the practicalities of establishing a drying floor are and the benefits it would bring, hence, pronouncing on such a decision. Many times most of us are fooled that agriculturists or farmers are persons who just leave their homes, go to the backdam and toil the soil, but I wish to remind you that there are many farmers out there with Masters Degrees, First Degrees, and Diplomas in Agriculture and they would have carefully analyzed a situation before making a decision.
The annul to this is that if the government doesn’t adhere to the appeal of the populace; again, there would be criticism. So, who to please and who not to please? If Peeping Tom were planting rice, it would have been the reverse, he would have welcomed the drying floors, but sitting in a chair, hidden behind the scene, come on, who would listen to you.
I am indeed happy about these drying floors and I am sure many other farmers are and we will make maximum use of them and operate them in a systematic way so that everyone in their respective vicinity can benefit.