PLEASE permit me space in your newspaper to publish this letter of rice farmers’ concerns with the Charity – Zorg-en-Vlygt District on the Essequibo Coast. In 2006, when the Government of Guyana through the Ministry of Agriculture initiatives for the formation of the Water User’s Associations  (WUA)across all rice growing districts was welcomed by rice farmers to manage their affairs in collection of the drainage and irrigation rates and maintenance structures etc.
In 2007, the Ministry of Agriculture had formed the Charity – Zorg-en-Vlygt Water User’s Association from selected persons to manage the Drainage and irrigation system within the 43 villages in boundaries of this association.
For a few months of management of the association, things used to be normal in every aspect of the association since every selected member was given a mandate later in June 30, 2008 a copy of the Delegation Agreement and the by laws of the Charity – Zorg-en-Vlygt Water User’s Association.
In the Delegation Agreement it is clearly spelt out in Article 6 Rights and Responsibilities of the NDIA where the association by-laws has been the statue written in Chapters, Articles and Sale-articles which are totally breached in many corrupted forms such as contracting procedures, no tendering of contracts, conflicts of interest and luxurious spending.
This Charity – Zorg-En-Vlygt Water User’s Association personnel track record needs to be looked at since there is only one rate collector and one sweeper/cleaner, both receiving $47,000 as employees’ salary per month while records revealed that one member of the association has employed himself and paying himself a salary of $40,000 a month along with stipend of $15,000 per month plus phone bill, travelling and gas bill for doing nothing in the office.
It was brought to the attention of scores of farmers within the association district in relation of corruption being done by some members of the association by breaching the Delegation Agreement and all 37 Chapters of the Association by-laws of which 99.5 per cent of rice farmers are unaware of how to become a member and the rules stated in the Delegation Agreement and the by-laws.
It is evident according to records that one member has been drawing $55,000 per month as salary and stipend and not to mention his luxurious and extravagant spending per month.
From July 2008 to date this individual has manipulated the Charity-Zory-en-Vlygt Water User’s Association and the rice farmers are calling on the relevant authority for a new management since records revealed this person alone has been receiving from farmers monies some $2M which did not include other luxuries on the strength of poor rice farmers.