Jordan says $23B for rice “shipment” not for rice “farmers”

Another Govt blunder

– still unclear if it is “real” money

After weeks stonewalling over mounting pressure following his announcement of $23 billion for rice farmers during his

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

maiden 2015 Budget presentation in the National Assembly, Finance Minister Winston Jordan has finally admitted that Government never intended to give rice farmers any money to assist them, while the industry continues to founder in its current crisis.
Seeking to set the record straight on Friday, Jordan during an interview with Guyana Times said his announcement of providing $23 billion to the rice industry, is not to pay farmers, but to assist in the shipment of rice to Venezuela.
He still did not address the Opposition Leader’s contention that the sum was not “real” nor exactly to which entities the $23B was paid. The sum would represent payment for an entire year’s shipment of 200,000 tonnes of rice to Venezuela.
Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo had made the shocking disclosure when he rose to debate the Budget, revealing in the process that the $23 billion announced by Jordan was not real or liquid money but just a paper transaction by the Government.
When Jordan announced the subsidy for the industry, it appeared that it was going directly to struggling rice farmers. As a result, farmers were ecstatic and overjoyed at the announcement as it meant that they would get assistance during their time of turmoil in paying for their investment in the present crop, from the Government.
But Jordan reminded that the new Administration allegedly met an empty PetroCaribe Fund, with a mere $.8 million remaining.
He said his portfolio as Finance Minister is to honour all financial agreements, and not to finance the farmers.