SOME of us are fortunate to have a nice job that pays well and we can afford the wonderful luxuries of life and more so sit in Parliament, the highest office of this land, and instead of making decisions or supporting decisions that will be beneficial to the people of Guyana, come up with some of the worst ideas and debate it as if it would bring with it any good.

But I guess this is where tax payers’ money goes and they have to sit there and say something in opposition so that people can actually know that they are working. But the public is wise . We too know what is good for us or not. We are the ones who have to toil in the soil to make ends meet. We are the same rice farmers who contribute almost the highest to the agricultural GDP. We might not have Law Degrees or PhD’s, but we are not illiterate either.

I was appalled by the statements made by Mr. Ramjattan at the sitting of the National Assembly where the Minister of Agriculture announced the amendment to the Rice Farmers’ Act to have farmers paid on time. Now tell me Mr. Ramjattan, what is wrong with rice farmers being paid on time? This might not affect him, since his pay comes up to date every month but it surely affects us, since we have no other means of income. So, for the sake of the rice farmers of this country, please don’t jump up and make statements just because you are being paid to oppose. Sit and think it through.

I do hope that this letter of concern reaches the eyes of Mr. Ramjattan and that the next time he jumps up to make decisions; he should remember that this is not his house business, but the concern of a nation. Since his party is called Alliance for Change, I hope he can change for the better. And to the rice farmers of this country, I call on you to fully support the amendment to the Rice Factories Act so that we can all receive our payments on time and continue to improve the rice sector.
SHAMSHUDEEN KHAN