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FM
Former Member

Granger to rice farmers in crisis: “It’s a private arrangement… not a Government arrangement”

Lack of markets, low prices

President David Granger has once again backtracked on a major campaign promise and distanced himself and his Government from the plight of rice farmers.

Echoing statements already proclaimed by Government officials, President Granger insisted that the crisis of the rice industry is not Government’s problem.

“It’s a private arrangement… Farmer-miller-market… It’s not a Government arrangement,” he firmly stated.

But this goes entirely against its campaign promise to the local rice farmers. Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and Public Security Minister and Vice President Khemraj Ramjattan had on many occasions promised rice farmers $9000 a bag of paddy at several public meetings across the country.

The A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (ANPU/AFC) members Dr Turhane Doerga and Jinnah Rahaman also joined the bandwagon and repeated this promise on several occasions.

The situation in the rice industry is currently so severe that rice farmers have already signalled their intention to ‘rest’ their lands come the next crop, given the low prices and lack of Government intervention.

The lack of action and unfavourable responses from the relevant authorities to inject funds into the industry has only made matters worse. The farmers contended that the poor prices they are being offered cannot offset their cost of production that they have to outlay; and without intervention from the Administration, their future appears to be nothing short of ‘bleak’.

Generally, in a crisis of this nature, the previous Administration would have released the necessary funds to the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) to pay the millers so they could pay the farmers. If it is a case where the millers actually have the money but are refusing to settle their debts with the farmers, then Government would usually threaten to take the millers to court or have their licenses revoked.

But the Granger-led Administration is taking a different approach — one which stakeholders have argued will see rice farmers continuing to suffer as the rice industry crumbles to ruins.

APNU/AFC allies Dr Doerga and Rahaman have already registered their dissatisfaction with the way the new Government is handling the rice situation.

Granger, speaking to media operatives, emphasised that the problems of the rice industry are not to be blamed on the Government. He offered no form of relief to the industry except through the acquisition of markets for the millers. Granger disclosed that he met the President of Senegal and discussed matters relating to rice; particularly regarding securing rice markets for Guyana.

“The main focus for Guyana is economic diplomacy. I want to sell rice, I want to sell rum, I want to sell plantain chips, I wanna sell stuff… We are searching for markets to help the private millers and farmers because we want the industry to flourish and prosper,” he said.

Agriculture Minister Noel Holder during a previous interview with this newspaper had made it clear that his Government cannot intervene to rescue rice farmers.

Asked whether the Government would intervene in any way to ensure rice farmers get some kind of relief, Minister Holder indicated it would be a difficult task.

“Intervening, I think that there are some laws that allow the Government to take over rice millers, mills and that sort of thing. Intervening is done by law because the Government would have to get this money back from somewhere,” he explained.

Therefore, the Minister indicated that the current crisis is beyond the help of Government and that millers and rice farmers have to work out among themselves the terms of the outstanding payments.

He alluded to the fact that Government has already released the names of all the millers who owe rice farmers in an effort to put pressure on those millers to quickly settle their debts.

According to the document released on September 3, the millers who were yet to pay off rice farmers are Wazeer Hussein (Dry Shore/KSCL) – $285,360,540; Ramesh Ramlakhan (Ex-Mouth) – $156,584,455; Deonarine (Evergreen) – $135,000,000; Old Mac Guyana Inc – $28,300,000 and La Resource Rice Industry – $27,600,000.

Replies sorted oldest to newest

According to the document released on September 3, the millers who were yet to pay off rice farmers are Wazeer Hussein (Dry Shore/KSCL) – $285,360,540; Ramesh Ramlakhan (Ex-Mouth) – $156,584,455; Deonarine (Evergreen) – $135,000,000; Old Mac Guyana Inc – $28,300,000 and La Resource Rice Industry – $27,600,000.

 

These millers needs to go to jail and have their assets confiscated until they paid up. Need to use some MAFIA tatics.

FM

QUOTE: '“It’s a private arrangement… Farmer-miller-market… It’s not a Government arrangement,” he [Granger] firmly stated.

That's a fact.

But this goes entirely against its campaign promise to the local rice farmers. Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and Public Security Minister and Vice President Khemraj Ramjattan had on many occasions promised rice farmers $9000 a bag of paddy at several public meetings across the country.

Nagamootoo and Ramjattan should fork out the money from their pockets and pay for making empty promises. They foolishly fixed a $9000/bag price without determining whether millers could afford to pay, having regard to their production costs and sales revenue. They must learn a lesson not to make big unrealistic promises to get votes. They have now put the coalition in an embarrassing position. I am being bloody blunt here, and who vex can drink Marvex.

FM

Two former PPP inept members were put in charge of running the Government.

These guys don't have a clue what to do.  If you want to fly, you must first learn how to walk and run.    They have a whole decade to learn how to fly.  

I hate the excuse that Rome was not built in a day. 

R
Originally Posted by kp:

RICE DEAD, SUGAR DEAD , BUSINESSES DEAD, Coolie Dead. I think Cain would say ,plant dope.

KP, why should Guyana  continue producing sugar at 45 cents per pound, whils't the market price is 13 cents per pound?

Mitwah
Originally Posted by Mitwah:
Originally Posted by kp:

RICE DEAD, SUGAR DEAD , BUSINESSES DEAD, Coolie Dead. I think Cain would say ,plant dope.

KP, why should Guyana  continue producing sugar at 45 cents per pound, whils't the market price is 13 cents per pound?

Come in kp what is the solution diversify or continue.

Django
Originally Posted by Mitwah:
Originally Posted by kp:

RICE DEAD, SUGAR DEAD , BUSINESSES DEAD, Coolie Dead. I think Cain would say ,plant dope.

KP, why should Guyana  continue producing sugar at 45 cents per pound, whils't the market price is 13 cents per pound?

Is this why some countries passed laws for assisted suicide.

There come a time in life or business where things must change,end, or the entire basket of eggs could get broken. 

Tola
Originally Posted by Mitwah:
Originally Posted by kp:

RICE DEAD, SUGAR DEAD , BUSINESSES DEAD, Coolie Dead. I think Cain would say ,plant dope.

KP, why should Guyana  continue producing sugar at 45 cents per pound, whils't the market price is 13 cents per pound?

Maybe the rice farmers should stop planting rice also.

FM
Originally Posted by Mitwah:
Originally Posted by kp:

RICE DEAD, SUGAR DEAD , BUSINESSES DEAD, Coolie Dead. I think Cain would say ,plant dope.

KP, why should Guyana  continue producing sugar at 45 cents per pound, whils't the market price is 13 cents per pound?

Sugar,rice and small businesses, if don't succeed ,who will it impact negatively ? The 51% of  population who are Indian will directly or indirectly suffer at their failure. While, money is spent in boosting the army, police and national service who employ predominantly Blacks, and what these fellas do, nothing, no war to fight, crime is up and no jobs for the youths, they sit all day shining their boots . They are like leaches ,get a good salary, free clothes, free food, free transportation, free housing and who pays for that? tax payers--rice farmers, sugar workers, and businesses. So, don't cut the hand that feed you!!!

K
Originally Posted by skeldon_man:
Originally Posted by Mitwah:
Originally Posted by kp:

RICE DEAD, SUGAR DEAD , BUSINESSES DEAD, Coolie Dead. I think Cain would say ,plant dope.

KP, why should Guyana  continue producing sugar at 45 cents per pound, whils't the market price is 13 cents per pound?

Maybe the rice farmers should stop planting rice also.

Top rice producing U.S. states in 2013 and 2014 (in 1,000 cwt)*    

This statistic shows the leading U.S. states according to the highest rice production in 2013 and 2014. Louisiana was the third leading rice producing state with 32.7 million cwt of rice produced in 2014.

 

http://www.statista.com/statis...for-rice-production/

Mitwah
Originally Posted by Mitwah:
Originally Posted by skeldon_man:
Originally Posted by Mitwah:
Originally Posted by kp:

RICE DEAD, SUGAR DEAD , BUSINESSES DEAD, Coolie Dead. I think Cain would say ,plant dope.

KP, why should Guyana  continue producing sugar at 45 cents per pound, whils't the market price is 13 cents per pound?

Maybe the rice farmers should stop planting rice also.

Top rice producing U.S. states in 2013 and 2014 (in 1,000 cwt)*    

This statistic shows the leading U.S. states according to the highest rice production in 2013 and 2014. Louisiana was the third leading rice producing state with 32.7 million cwt of rice produced in 2014.

 

http://www.statista.com/statis...for-rice-production/

Cannot compare Guyana and US. Guyana cannot afford to buy US rice if Guyanese rice farmers stop planting rice. Coolie guh punish.

FM
Originally Posted by kp:

RICE DEAD, SUGAR DEAD , BUSINESSES DEAD, Coolie Dead. I think Cain would say ,plant dope.

He He He...Cain may be right....there is big money in dope selling....big market in US

V
Originally Posted by kp:
Originally Posted by Mitwah:
Originally Posted by kp:

RICE DEAD, SUGAR DEAD , BUSINESSES DEAD, Coolie Dead. I think Cain would say ,plant dope.

KP, why should Guyana  continue producing sugar at 45 cents per pound, whils't the market price is 13 cents per pound?

Sugar,rice and small businesses, if don't succeed ,who will it impact negatively ? The 51% of  population who are Indian will directly or indirectly suffer at their failure. While, money is spent in boosting the army, police and national service who employ predominantly Blacks, and what these fellas do, nothing, no war to fight, crime is up and no jobs for the youths, they sit all day shining their boots . They are like leaches ,get a good salary, free clothes, free food, free transportation, free housing and who pays for that? tax payers--rice farmers, sugar workers, and businesses. So, don't cut the hand that feed you!!!

Indians are not 51% of the population they are around 43%.

Django
Originally Posted by kp:
Originally Posted by Mitwah:
Originally Posted by kp:

RICE DEAD, SUGAR DEAD , BUSINESSES DEAD, Coolie Dead. I think Cain would say ,plant dope.

KP, why should Guyana  continue producing sugar at 45 cents per pound, whils't the market price is 13 cents per pound?

Sugar,rice and small businesses, if don't succeed ,who will it impact negatively ? The 51% of  population who are Indian will directly or indirectly suffer at their failure. While, money is spent in boosting the army, police and national service who employ predominantly Blacks, and what these fellas do, nothing, no war to fight, crime is up and no jobs for the youths, they sit all day shining their boots . They are like leaches ,get a good salary, free clothes, free food, free transportation, free housing and who pays for that? tax payers--rice farmers, sugar workers, and businesses. So, don't cut the hand that feed you!!!

KP, you raise some good points here.

What is your solution to the failing sugar industry, keep subsiding it and at what cost, when world sugar is so cheap ?

I agree that a lot of Indians might suffer if  the subsidy is discontinued..

But how do you see this being resolved ? 

Tola
Last edited by Tola
Originally Posted by skeldon_man:
Originally Posted by Mitwah:
Originally Posted by skeldon_man:
Originally Posted by Mitwah:
Originally Posted by kp:

RICE DEAD, SUGAR DEAD , BUSINESSES DEAD, Coolie Dead. I think Cain would say ,plant dope.

KP, why should Guyana  continue producing sugar at 45 cents per pound, whils't the market price is 13 cents per pound?

Maybe the rice farmers should stop planting rice also.

Top rice producing U.S. states in 2013 and 2014 (in 1,000 cwt)*    

This statistic shows the leading U.S. states according to the highest rice production in 2013 and 2014. Louisiana was the third leading rice producing state with 32.7 million cwt of rice produced in 2014.

 

http://www.statista.com/statis...for-rice-production/

Cannot compare Guyana and US. Guyana cannot afford to buy US rice if Guyanese rice farmers stop planting rice. Coolie guh punish.

Are the rice workers in the States primarily white?

Mitwah

Now the shoes is on the other foot, the new govt now has no solution to the country's ills. One set of crooks replaced by another in govt. Crime continues, economy down, no PPP locked up for corruption and the new govt splurging the tax payers monies on overseas trips, luxury vehicles etc. Doing the same things they promised to stamp out. The beat goes on.

FM
Originally Posted by BGurd_See:

Now the shoes is on the other foot, the new govt now has no solution to the country's ills. One set of crooks replaced by another in govt. Crime continues, economy down, no PPP locked up for corruption and the new govt splurging the tax payers monies on overseas trips, luxury vehicles etc. Doing the same things they promised to stamp out. The beat goes on.

BGurd...you back bhai.

Django
Originally Posted by VishMahabir:
Originally Posted by kp:

RICE DEAD, SUGAR DEAD , BUSINESSES DEAD, Coolie Dead. I think Cain would say ,plant dope.

He He He...Cain may be right....there is big money in dope selling....big market in US

Two more have seen the light..all praise to da'erb.

 

Top movers now...Bamboo, Coconut, 'erb.

cain
Last edited by cain
Originally Posted by Tola:
Originally Posted by kp:
Originally Posted by Mitwah:
Originally Posted by kp:

RICE DEAD, SUGAR DEAD , BUSINESSES DEAD, Coolie Dead. I think Cain would say ,plant dope.

KP, why should Guyana  continue producing sugar at 45 cents per pound, whils't the market price is 13 cents per pound?

Sugar,rice and small businesses, if don't succeed ,who will it impact negatively ? The 51% of  population who are Indian will directly or indirectly suffer at their failure. While, money is spent in boosting the army, police and national service who employ predominantly Blacks, and what these fellas do, nothing, no war to fight, crime is up and no jobs for the youths, they sit all day shining their boots . They are like leaches ,get a good salary, free clothes, free food, free transportation, free housing and who pays for that? tax payers--rice farmers, sugar workers, and businesses. So, don't cut the hand that feed you!!!

KP, you raise some good points here.

What is your solution to the failing sugar industry, keep subsiding it and at what cost, when world sugar is so cheap ?

I agree that a lot of Indians might suffer if  the subsidy is discontinued..

But how do you see this being resolved ? 

Ok, lets get serious, I am no expert, but I grow up with sugar. First, how come every other country is successful at their sugar cane production, except Guyana, both sugar and RICE is like a cow, if you want milk, you have to feed am grass. The land that you plant sugar and rice needs resting,fertilizer and crop rotation. The fructose content has dropped so badly over the years, and yet no one has done anything to improve it's output, the industry needs to be machanize, we still depend too much on manpower.Over the years, Guyana is prune to flood, and what we have is SALT WATER polluting the soil, it takes approx. 5 years to irrigate the soil of the salt water. The flooding affects ALL agriculture, so from the old lady that plants Bora to the Big Sugar Factories must feel the pinch. Remember, Guyana has nothing to fall back on, We know SUGAR, and WE know RICE, lets go back to basic--Fertilize,Rotate and then Cultivate.

K
Originally Posted by kp:
Originally Posted by Tola:
Originally Posted by kp:
Originally Posted by Mitwah:
Originally Posted by kp:

RICE DEAD, SUGAR DEAD , BUSINESSES DEAD, Coolie Dead. I think Cain would say ,plant dope.

KP, why should Guyana  continue producing sugar at 45 cents per pound, whils't the market price is 13 cents per pound?

Sugar,rice and small businesses, if don't succeed ,who will it impact negatively ? The 51% of  population who are Indian will directly or indirectly suffer at their failure. While, money is spent in boosting the army, police and national service who employ predominantly Blacks, and what these fellas do, nothing, no war to fight, crime is up and no jobs for the youths, they sit all day shining their boots . They are like leaches ,get a good salary, free clothes, free food, free transportation, free housing and who pays for that? tax payers--rice farmers, sugar workers, and businesses. So, don't cut the hand that feed you!!!

KP, you raise some good points here.

What is your solution to the failing sugar industry, keep subsiding it and at what cost, when world sugar is so cheap ?

I agree that a lot of Indians might suffer if  the subsidy is discontinued..

But how do you see this being resolved ? 

Ok, lets get serious, I am no expert, but I grow up with sugar. First, how come every other country is successful at their sugar cane production, except Guyana, both sugar and RICE is like a cow, if you want milk, you have to feed am grass. The land that you plant sugar and rice needs resting,fertilizer and crop rotation. The fructose content has dropped so badly over the years, and yet no one has done anything to improve it's output, the industry needs to be machanize, we still depend too much on manpower.Over the years, Guyana is prune to flood, and what we have is SALT WATER polluting the soil, it takes approx. 5 years to irrigate the soil of the salt water. The flooding affects ALL agriculture, so from the old lady that plants Bora to the Big Sugar Factories must feel the pinch. Remember, Guyana has nothing to fall back on, We know SUGAR, and WE know RICE, lets go back to basic--Fertilize,Rotate and then Cultivate.

To mechanize the sugar industry they will have to change

the dutchman beds if it's not done,and the current layout

have to change lots of punt canals have to be filled,roads

to the back lands will have to upgrade to all weather roads

 

 

Django
Last edited by Django
Originally Posted by Gilbakka:

QUOTE: '“It’s a private arrangement… Farmer-miller-market… It’s not a Government arrangement,” he [Granger] firmly stated.

That's a fact.

But this goes entirely against its campaign promise to the local rice farmers. Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and Public Security Minister and Vice President Khemraj Ramjattan had on many occasions promised rice farmers $9000 a bag of paddy at several public meetings across the country.

Nagamootoo and Ramjattan should fork out the money from their pockets and pay for making empty promises. They foolishly fixed a $9000/bag price without determining whether millers could afford to pay, having regard to their production costs and sales revenue. They must learn a lesson not to make big unrealistic promises to get votes. They have now put the coalition in an embarrassing position. I am being bloody blunt here, and who vex can drink Marvex.

Gilbakka

I agree Moses, Ramjattan and all Guyanese 

were fooled by Jagdeo, Ramotar and the PPP

 

Remember it was Jagdeo & Ramotar

who were Boasting on the PPP Platform

about the lucrative Markets for Guyana Rice

in Venezuela & Panama.

 

Look what the PPP was telling

the Rice Farmers

https://guyana.crowdstack.io/topic/ri...e-a-market-in-panama

 

But the truth was

the Rice Industry was Bankrupt

Under the PPP

(1) Venezuela cancelled the Rice Deal

The PPP knew this

but kept it a secret During Election.

 

(2) There was no Rice deal with Panama...

All the Pictures were Bogus...

look  and see for yourself

https://guyana.crowdstack.io/topic/ri...e-a-market-in-panama

 

(3) The PPP was stealing

money secretly

to fool the rice farmers

Tell Guyanese everything

in the Rice Industry

was Bright and beautiful.

https://guyana.crowdstack.io/topic/an...ll-not-find-anything

 

 

 

(4) Jagdeo & Ramotar were fooling

the Sugar Workers at the same time

 on the Political Platform.

All the wanted was their Vote

they truck all the workers to Babu John

but did not tell them

Guysuco was Bankrupt....

and there is no money to pay wages

after the elections.

 

 

 

 

https://guyana.crowdstack.io/topic/gu...is-recording-profits

 

(5) Jagdeo did not tell

the sugar workers that he

 destroyed the Sugar Industry...

Burnham & Dr Reid produced Sugar

@ 10 US Cents per pound...

 

Jagdeo & Ramotar produced Sugar

@ 45 US Cents per pound...

 

(6) Jagdeo & Ramotar did not

tell the PPP Supporters....

how much they thief

Between  1997 -2015 Under them...

the Thiefing, Corruption & Mismanagement

 

Jagdeo & Ramotar exceed the thiefing

under PNC between 1964-1992

 

 

 

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

 

Gilbakka,

I agree with Ramjattan....

 

Moses & Granger

Must Build a new Prison

 

to put away all these

Professional Thieves

Funny Fellas & Crab Louse

who lie about the state

of the Sugar & Rice Industry...

https://guyana.crowdstack.io/topic/af...use-and-funny-fellas

 

 

 

FM
Last edited by Former Member
Originally Posted by Django:
Originally Posted by Mitwah:
Originally Posted by kp:

RICE DEAD, SUGAR DEAD , BUSINESSES DEAD, Coolie Dead. I think Cain would say ,plant dope.

KP, why should Guyana  continue producing sugar at 45 cents per pound, whils't the market price is 13 cents per pound?

Come in kp what is the solution diversify or continue.

Look, the coalition cannot have their cake and eat it. Prior to the elections, they argued that the problems the sugar industry was experiencing was because of the ineptitude of the directors and management and corruption. Well, they are in government, changed the board and the manager. Supposedly working on the corruption issue. What the heck is the problem now? What, they suddenly wake up?

Z

I am surprised that Granger changed his tune and began supporting sugar. Prior to the election campaign he stated that he would shut down the sugar industry like the rest of the Caribbean, however he changed gears on the campaign trail, now it looks like reality bites. 

FM
Originally Posted by Tola:
Originally Posted by kp:
Originally Posted by Mitwah:
Originally Posted by kp:

RICE DEAD, SUGAR DEAD , BUSINESSES DEAD, Coolie Dead. I think Cain would say ,plant dope.

KP, why should Guyana  continue producing sugar at 45 cents per pound, whils't the market price is 13 cents per pound?

Sugar,rice and small businesses, if don't succeed ,who will it impact negatively ? The 51% of  population who are Indian will directly or indirectly suffer at their failure. While, money is spent in boosting the army, police and national service who employ predominantly Blacks, and what these fellas do, nothing, no war to fight, crime is up and no jobs for the youths, they sit all day shining their boots . They are like leaches ,get a good salary, free clothes, free food, free transportation, free housing and who pays for that? tax payers--rice farmers, sugar workers, and businesses. So, don't cut the hand that feed you!!!

KP, you raise some good points here.

What is your solution to the failing sugar industry, keep subsiding it and at what cost, when world sugar is so cheap ?

I agree that a lot of Indians might suffer if  the subsidy is discontinued..

But how do you see this being resolved ? 

We need to be data driven here so that better decisions are made regarding the sugar industry? What are  the macro costs and benefits, what are the social costs and benefits. It is more than cost versus revenues of the industry in the short term. The sugar industry has become a political football and if we do not really do a good job of understanding the issues, then we will be pawns in someone's else game.

Z
Originally Posted by Zed:
Originally Posted by Django:
Originally Posted by Mitwah:
Originally Posted by kp:

RICE DEAD, SUGAR DEAD , BUSINESSES DEAD, Coolie Dead. I think Cain would say ,plant dope.

KP, why should Guyana  continue producing sugar at 45 cents per pound, whils't the market price is 13 cents per pound?

Come in kp what is the solution diversify or continue.

Look, the coalition cannot have their cake and eat it. Prior to the elections, they argued that the problems the sugar industry was experiencing was because of the ineptitude of the directors and management and corruption. Well, they are in government, changed the board and the manager. Supposedly working on the corruption issue. What the heck is the problem now? What, they suddenly wake up?

Maybe, changing boards and managers are not enough to resolve the in- grained problems caused by previous actions/non-actions.

But constant bailout is not the solution.  

Tola
Originally Posted by asj:

Granger to rice farmers in crisis: “It’s a private arrangement… not a Government arrangement”

Lack of markets, low prices

President David Granger has once again backtracked on a major campaign promise and distanced himself and his Government from the plight of rice farmers.

Echoing statements already proclaimed by Government officials, President Granger insisted that the crisis of the rice industry is not Government’s problem.

“It’s a private arrangement… Farmer-miller-market… It’s not a Government arrangement,” he firmly stated.

But this goes entirely against its campaign promise to the local rice farmers. Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and Public Security Minister and Vice President Khemraj Ramjattan had on many occasions promised rice farmers $9000 a bag of paddy at several public meetings across the country.

The A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (ANPU/AFC) members Dr Turhane Doerga and Jinnah Rahaman also joined the bandwagon and repeated this promise on several occasions.

The situation in the rice industry is currently so severe that rice farmers have already signalled their intention to ‘rest’ their lands come the next crop, given the low prices and lack of Government intervention.

The lack of action and unfavourable responses from the relevant authorities to inject funds into the industry has only made matters worse. The farmers contended that the poor prices they are being offered cannot offset their cost of production that they have to outlay; and without intervention from the Administration, their future appears to be nothing short of ‘bleak’.

Generally, in a crisis of this nature, the previous Administration would have released the necessary funds to the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) to pay the millers so they could pay the farmers. If it is a case where the millers actually have the money but are refusing to settle their debts with the farmers, then Government would usually threaten to take the millers to court or have their licenses revoked.

But the Granger-led Administration is taking a different approach — one which stakeholders have argued will see rice farmers continuing to suffer as the rice industry crumbles to ruins.

APNU/AFC allies Dr Doerga and Rahaman have already registered their dissatisfaction with the way the new Government is handling the rice situation.

Granger, speaking to media operatives, emphasised that the problems of the rice industry are not to be blamed on the Government. He offered no form of relief to the industry except through the acquisition of markets for the millers. Granger disclosed that he met the President of Senegal and discussed matters relating to rice; particularly regarding securing rice markets for Guyana.

“The main focus for Guyana is economic diplomacy. I want to sell rice, I want to sell rum, I want to sell plantain chips, I wanna sell stuff… We are searching for markets to help the private millers and farmers because we want the industry to flourish and prosper,” he said.

Agriculture Minister Noel Holder during a previous interview with this newspaper had made it clear that his Government cannot intervene to rescue rice farmers.

Asked whether the Government would intervene in any way to ensure rice farmers get some kind of relief, Minister Holder indicated it would be a difficult task.

“Intervening, I think that there are some laws that allow the Government to take over rice millers, mills and that sort of thing. Intervening is done by law because the Government would have to get this money back from somewhere,” he explained.

Therefore, the Minister indicated that the current crisis is beyond the help of Government and that millers and rice farmers have to work out among themselves the terms of the outstanding payments.

He alluded to the fact that Government has already released the names of all the millers who owe rice farmers in an effort to put pressure on those millers to quickly settle their debts.

According to the document released on September 3, the millers who were yet to pay off rice farmers are Wazeer Hussein (Dry Shore/KSCL) – $285,360,540; Ramesh Ramlakhan (Ex-Mouth) – $156,584,455; Deonarine (Evergreen) – $135,000,000; Old Mac Guyana Inc – $28,300,000 and La Resource Rice Industry – $27,600,000.

 

PNC scumbags wil pay a heavy price at local elections.

FM

KoKo Beah PNC drives a big stick in the rear of rice farmers:

 

"Echoing statements already proclaimed by Government officials, President Granger insisted that the crisis of the rice industry is not Government’s problem.

“It’s a private arrangement… Farmer-miller-market… It’s not a Government arrangement,” he firmly stated."

FM
Originally Posted by Zed:
 

Look, the coalition cannot have their cake and eat it. Prior to the elections, they argued that the problems the sugar industry was experiencing was because of the ineptitude of the directors and management and corruption.

 

 

The Skeldon factory and other incompetency by the PPP ha splunged Guysuco in so much debt that it is now passed the point of return.

 

The gov't should sell Guysuco as the PPP did to Guymine.  What ever happens, happens. We read that Indians are so "resourceful" so let those who make that claim prove it.

FM
Originally Posted by caribny:
Originally Posted by Zed:
 

Look, the coalition cannot have their cake and eat it. Prior to the elections, they argued that the problems the sugar industry was experiencing was because of the ineptitude of the directors and management and corruption.

 

 

The Skeldon factory and other incompetency by the PPP ha splunged Guysuco in so much debt that it is now passed the point of return.

 

The gov't should sell Guysuco as the PPP did to Guymine.  What ever happens, happens. We read that Indians are so "resourceful" so let those who make that claim prove it.

The government must also stop the billions in Electricity subsidy for Linden. I am all for it. Let the PNC start tomorrow.

FM
Originally Posted by yuji22:
Originally Posted by caribny:
Originally Posted by Zed:
 

Look, the coalition cannot have their cake and eat it. Prior to the elections, they argued that the problems the sugar industry was experiencing was because of the ineptitude of the directors and management and corruption.

 

 

The Skeldon factory and other incompetency by the PPP ha splunged Guysuco in so much debt that it is now passed the point of return.

 

The gov't should sell Guysuco as the PPP did to Guymine.  What ever happens, happens. We read that Indians are so "resourceful" so let those who make that claim prove it.

The government must also stop the billions in Electricity subsidy for Linden. I am all for it. Let the PNC start tomorrow.

Even a racist like you wil acknowledge that way more was poured into Guysuco subsidies than into electricity for Lindeners, that being a very poor form of compensation for when the PPP dumped the Chinese on them.

 

So let the Chinese buy sugar and if thousands lose their jobs and end on the breadline, their fates wouldn't be any worse than that which befell the bauxite workers.

FM
Originally Posted by yuji22:

Listen, you want to close Guysuco.

 

 

No just sell it.  If the Chinese wish to close it then you could accuse them of ethnic cleansing.  You can give Guysuco to the same Chinese who "built" the Skeldon factory.

FM
Last edited by Former Member

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