October 18, 2016

Archives for September 8, 2016

SARA Bill deeply flawed, provides for harassment, political victimisation – Private Sector

the proposed State Asset Recovery Bill proposed by Government, is not only deeply flawed but is inconsistent with many of the fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution of Guyana, and as such, must be reviewed in that context.psc

This was the stern warning given by the Private Sector Commission (PSC) on Wednesday when that body for the first time formally objected to the provisions of the proposed SARA Bill.

The local Private Sector umbrella body in a strongly worded missive said it is of the view that all assets or resources belonging to State “that were unlawfully or criminally transferred to any beneficiary must be recovered and returned to the State once such unlawful transactions become known and criminal convictions obtained.”

This, however, has to be done within the confines of the Guyana Constitution.

The Private Sector body made its position known, having consulted with its legal representation and has since committed to making known its objections to the SARA Bill to the Attorney General and members of the legislature.

Political victimisation

“The SARA Bill 2016 is not a good signal to investors who will require access to State resources such as land, licences, access rights etc, as the Bill provides opportunities for legitimate investors to be harassed and politically victimised,” the body also said.

In lambasting the draft SARA Bill, the Private Sector representative body drew reference to the fact that the Bill has been drafted from the perspective “that the Government of Guyana does not know what it owns or what the State has lost over the years and as such it provides all-encompassing investigative and surveillance powers to the Director and staff of the Agency to snoop around into private accounts and financial records of citizens to determine what assets of the State were lost and need to be recovered.”

According to the Private Sector body, “this is a complete affront to the fundamental rights of citizens and if such powers are granted, they can be used to marginalise, suppress and take advantage of vulnerable members of the population through political intimidation.”

SARA Director

The PSC, said, it is extremely concerned that the powers provided to the Director of SARA will blur the lines of separation of functions of the Executive and the Judiciary and further questions the need for Ministers to designate to the Director and staff of SARA, “as they see fit, the power of a revenue or customs officer, of a Police Officer and immigration officer rather than requesting collaboration and coordination of efforts amongst these agencies.”

According to the PSC, it is of the view that that the SARA Bill is premature and redundant since many of the intelligence gathering mechanism have already been enacted in the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Legislation and included in the mandate of the Integrity Commission, both of which have not been fully functional to date.

The PSC has since called on the Executive and members of the “legislature of our country to completely reexamine the dangers to civil liberties modelled by this Bill in the context of the fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.”

The public stated position of the Private Sector body echoes that of many other civil society bodies, many of which have questioned not only the proposed powers of the SARA Director but the Bill in its entirety.

During a recent public consultation forum on the SARA Bill, organised by the parliamentary Opposition – the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) – stakeholders expressed grave concerns about the dangers of the passage of this piece of legislation. Former Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall were among those to question the provisions of the Bill since in its current construct, “creates an environment that encourages the violation of individuals’ constitutional rights and undermines the rule of law since it confers powers 10 times greater than those of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) on a sole individual – the Director of the Agency.

Currently, this post is occupied by Professor Clive Thomas who will, upon the passage of the SARA Bill, become the most powerful man in the country second to President David Granger.

The Bill is slated to be presented to the National Assembly for debate and possibly enactment when the House comes out of recess next month.

 

Govt seizes BaiShanLin’s forestry concessions

– after company repeatedly fails to produce investor or plan to pay $80M debt

The Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) has repossessed concessions currently being held by BaiShanLin International Forest Development Inc (BIFDI), since it has continued to fail to produce its proposed investor or a clear plan on how it intended to pay off an $80 million debt owed to the State.

The announcement was made on Tuesday by the GFC.

bai-shan-lin-log-yard-kwakwani

bai-shan-lin-log-yard-kwakwani

It was reported earlier this year that the Long Jiang Forest Industries Group, a Chinese State-owned company, had acquired 55 per cent of the shares in BaiShanLin and had intended to fully take over the company in 2016.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon had indicated following a trip to China that he had met with the Vice Director of the Company, Wong Dong Xu, along with officials of BaiShanLin, who had assured that the company’s officials would be in Guyana by May 2016 to complete due diligence for the takeover, and to satisfy and expand on the obligations of BaiShanLin to Guyana.

This is yet to obtain, hence the decision by the GFC to immediately repossess the forestry concessions held by BaiShanLin.

According to a public statement issued on Tuesday by the Commission, the decision came after the company “failed to deliver on agreed actions to introduce investors to the Commission and having been given time to prove that it had an acceptable plan to clear an approximately GY$80 million debt”.

The GFC said, in an effort to conclude the matter, representatives of BaiShanLin were invited to a meeting on April 8, 2016 to provide an update on its plans to clear the debt.

The Commission said during the meeting company representatives had indicated that BaiShanLin suffered financial constraints, which affected the establishing of the wood processing facility, and the company was engaging a new partner that would contribute significantly to its investment in Guyana.

The GFC Board said it was, at the time, assured of the financial strength of the new partner, who had committed to pay off the debt owed by the company to the Commission.

“To date, the BIFDI has failed to fulfil any of its commitments to the Government of Guyana, effectively failing on the obligations it made, which were accepted in good faith.”

As such, the GFC said, “In keeping with Forest Governance Practices, the GFC will be formally repossessing the concessions owned by the company and accelerating efforts to recover the debt owed.”

The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) in April seized a Lexus SUV bearing licence plate number PRR 2888 and a Nissan minivan with licence plate number PRR 3888 from the Chinese logging company after it had failed to pay import taxes for the two luxury vehicles.

Earlier this year, Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman indicated that Government was moving to up the ante in order to recover outstanding monies owed to the State.

The Administration had also banned the logging company from exporting any logs from Guyana until a resolution could be met.

BaiShanLin has repeatedly been accused of unscrupulous and sometimes illegal practices in Guyana’s forests and its export of logs.

When the company started its operations locally, it had also committed under its investment agreement to establish a US$100 million wood processing plant in order to engage in value added exports – this too was never built.

Government has also repeatedly over the years been accused of acting in collusion with BaiShanLin to flout Guyana’s laws in its operations.

The Chinese company has also been accused of contravening local laws to get around logging quotas by purchasing from small loggers and exporting those logs to China under their names.

BaiShanLin has, over the course of the years, been operating in Guyana benefiting from hundreds of millions in concessions, including duty-free imports for vehicles such as heavy-duty trucks and luxury vehicles, as well as cement, steel and fuel for its operations.

Over its years of operating in Guyana, the Chinese logging company had also extended its business interest into gold mining, transporting sand and stone, barge construction for transport of logs and quarried stone, duty-free imported steel sales, real estate, construction of residential housing, a government ministry car park and a shopping mall— Sunset Lakes.

BaiShanLin began its operations in Guyana in 2007.

 

BaiShanLin still controls 41,079 hectares of State forest

– has separate arrangements with 5

local logging companies

The Guyana Forestry Commission has moved to take back State forest concessions it had issued to BaiShanLin International Forest Development Inc (BIFDI), but the Chinese-owned logging company still enjoys access to in excess of 400,000 hectares of forests through Timber Sales Agreements (TSA) and other such relations with other companies it would have engaged over the years.

BaiShanLin trucks laden with logs

BaiShanLin trucks laden with logs

BaiShanLin in January 2011 entered into a TSA with Haimorakabra Logging Co Inc which gave the Chinese logging company access to 52,896 hectares of forest.

The company had also entered into a TSA with Kwebanna Wood Products Inc in April 2009. Under that arrangement, the company was made the majority shareholder and gained access to another 87,361 hectares of forested land.

Shortly after BaiShanLin started its operation in 2006, the company then entered into a TSA with Puruni Woods.

That arrangement saw BaiShanLin also becoming the majority shareholding in Puruni Woods, giving it access to 107,671 hectares of land.

In February 2015 the company had also executed a TSA with Sherwood Forrest Inc, giving it access to that company’s concession of 167,075 hectares of State forests.

Another company that BaiShanLin had entered into a TSA with is Wood Association Industries Company for its 26,076 hectares of land.

This would bring the total area of lands for which BaiShanLin still has access to 441,079 hectares of land.

The GFC on Tuesday announced that it would be repossessing, “concessions currently being held by BaiShanLin International Forest Development Inc (BIFDI).”

According to a missive issued by the Commission on Tuesday, “The decision came after the company failed to deliver on agreed actions to introduce investors to the Commission and having been given time to prove that it had an acceptable plan to clear an approximately GY$80 million debt.”

BIFDI was incorporated in September 2006 under the Guyana Companies Act 1991 with the main objective of timber harvesting and establishing downstream wood processing operations in Linden.

To date, the BIFDI has failed to fulfil any of its commitments to the Government of Guyana; effectively failing on the obligations it made, which were accepted in good faith.

According to GFC, “In keeping with Forest Governance Practices, the GFC will be formally repossessing the concessions owned by the company and accelerating efforts to recover the debt owed.”

 

“Pregnancy natural, should be celebrated” – President

NCN News Anchor saga

…CEO asked to apologise

Less than 24 hours after senior management of the State broadcaster National Communications Network (NCN) was forced to rescind its decision to remove journalist and News Anchor Natasha Smith from her anchoring duties because of pregnancy, President David Granger has weighed in on the situation, saying that pregnancy should be celebrated and accepted in the workplace.
The Head of State told reporters on Wednesday that while Government was yet to articulate a position on the issue, he personally believed that pregnancy was natural and normal for women.

News Anchor Natasha Smith

News Anchor Natasha Smith

“How can you get children without being pregnant? So, we should start to accept pregnancy as something as very normal and don’t regard it as something strange or a unusual occurrence,” President Granger said to reporters when asked for a comment on the ongoing controversy involving the NCN News Anchor, who was pulled from anchoring the newscast because of her pregnancy.
To this end, the Head of State is of the view that there is nothing wrong with having a pregnant woman anchoring the newscast. He said, “I don’t mind seeing a pregnant air stewardess or a waitress in the restaurant. Pregnancy is normal, so let’s celebrate it and let’s be grateful we have pregnant women. That’s my position, and I don’t mind if she is on the screen or on the radio. Why not?”
In a statement last week, Smith said last month (August 12) she was informed by a senior manager of the State-owned entity that she would be relieved of her duties as anchor. The broadcast journalist pointed out that it was shortly after this revelation that she was made aware that the reason for the decision was because she was unmarried and pregnant.
This issue has caused much public outrage, especially within the media fraternity and particularly from the Guyana Press Association (GPA). However, NCN has since denied claims that Smith was pulled from the set due to her pregnancy. In fact, it appears as though Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Lennox Cornette was misrepresented by management.
The GPA managed to procure a copy of the minutes from the August 8, 2016 management meeting, which centred on the production of a new montage. The document reads, “With regards to this, the CEO stated that the anchor and wardrobe should coincide with the montage. However, given the present condition of Ms Natasha Smith, the CEO asked that a tight shot be done to remedy the view.”
According to all of the senior executives of NCN who spoke to the GPA, they understood the CEO to be speaking of Smith’s pregnancy, hence the decision was communicated to her.
Prior to the meeting with NCN’s management on Tuesday, executive members of the GPA, along with other members of the media fraternity, union representatives and rights activists, staged a protest in front of the State network’s Homestretch Avenue head office, calling on the company to reverse its decision on Smith.
At the meeting later on, the request was upheld.
In addition, Cornette was instructed by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, who has responsibility for State media, to tender an unqualified apology to Smith.
According to the Prime Minister, he found the journalist’s removal from anchoring duties as an attack on her as a woman and as a professional journalist. Nagamootoo outlined that the coalition government stood for full equality of women; hence their right to work or association must not be denied or in any way trampled by their free choice to be married or to remain single, or to bear or not to bear children.
“I do not condone any such act and disassociate myself from the action in this matter by NCN…It agonises me to get involved in what is an NCN management matter, but, as a journalist and as a parent, I refuse to be silent on this occasion,” the Prime Minister said.
Of recent, the State-run company has come under much criticism after it was also brought to light that Sports Editor Jocelle Archibald-Hawke was suspended for one month without pay after she took to Facebook to criticise another NCN employee for asking President Granger about Pokémon Go – a trending mobile game.
However, NCN management maintained that its decision on the single mother of two was justified. These incidents have caused calls to be made for Cornette to be sent packing. (Vahnu Manikchand)

Given a fair chance at opening, I will back my ability – Johnson

By Akeem Greene

Guyana’s son of the soil and West Indies Test cricketer Leon Johnson, who has adopted the role as opening batsman in the game’s longest format, says that once he has given a fair chance in playing in the position, he firmly believes he will gradually improve.
In an exclusive interview with Guyana Times Sport on Wednesday at the player’s restaurant “Sticky Wicket” on Carmichael Street, the batman said “ Being asked to open the batting is not some

Leon Johnson

Leon Johnson

thing I’m accustom to, when I say fair chance I mean a good run, a number of consecutive matches and I will back my ability to opening batting.”
He further stated, “Those persons who would be opening the batting in international cricket would not just have started doing it, they probably would have been doing it for some time now, it’s a specialist position; so once I’m a given a fair opportunity I think I can adapt to it.”
However, throughout his career, the stylish left-handed batsman has plied his trade in the middle-order position, a position in which he has been extremely successful. During the 2015/2016 West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Professional Cricket League (PCL) 4-day competition, the Guyana Jaguars captain rocketed to the top of the charts with an impressive 807 runs from ten matches at an average of 57.64, scoring two centuries and five half-centuries, batting a number four.
Quizzed more on his new role in the regional side he explained, “Ideally if you going to open the batting in Test cricket, you will probably want to open the batting in four-day cricket but the way Guyana cricket is structured, we usually have seasoned openers, so probably asking these Guys who open the batting to drop in the order might be a bit difficult.”
He added, “I was leading run scorer in the regional tournament batting at four, so I don’t see a reason why I should play First-class cricket opening the batting and I have been successful at number four.”
On Test debut against Bangladesh in 2014, the batsmen stroked an eye-catching 66 after which he went on to make another half-century batting at number three however, in the recent series against India, he had to revert to the opening role, where he produced scores of 23,0 and nine.
Though the Test squad for the three Test matches against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from October 13 to November 3 has not been named, it would to be a total surprise to see a batsman who played six Test matches, averaging 30.70 not be included. The possibility lies that once selected for the tour, Johnson will return to the opening slot, against the current number one ranked Test team.
“Looking at Pakistan playing against England, they have a really good attack so the initial thinking will be to be to assess the conditions and you won’t be able to tell until you reach there and knowing the opposition, it all comes down to planning,” the 29 year-old revealed. With a lean outing in his last three Test innings, Johnson is cognisant of the technical areas he needs to address if he is to have a lengthy and successful career in the oldest format of the game. He stated, “After my dismissals in the two Test matches against India, I have gone and look at the tapes and I have seen a couple things I need to improve.”
This weekend, Johnson along with 10 other Guyanese players and several other regional players will engage in preparatory camp in Barbados ahead of their trip to the U.A.E and the A-team tour to Sri Lanka. ([email protected])

Georgetown searching for redemption

―Barnwell wants his players to back themselves

Georgetown looking to redeem itself ahead of their third round clash of the Jaguars Premier League against neighbours and second placed team East Coast, both the Manager/Coach Colin Stuart and captain Christopher Barnwell shares similar sentiments regarding the team’s performances in the previous games and are hopeful of a transition from game three onwards.
Speaking to Guyana

Colin Stuart

Colin Stuart

Christopher Barnwell

Christopher Barnwell

Times Sports Stuart said the team has fallen short in its first two matches but there are talents around, it is just for the players to execute. “Although the batsmen haven’t produced the goods they have batted confidently. Players like the skipper Barnwell, Robin Bacchus, Ovid Richardson and Dexter Solomon have all impressed but are yet to provide a big innings. They have batted confidently but have failed to carry on so if they continue to play positively and spend more time at the crease then they could achieve the team’s goal. The bowlers on the other hand have bowled well but haven’t received the support from the batsmen….Once the two departments work in tandem then we will be able to better oppositions,” detailed Stuart.
Fifth placed Georgetown lost first innings to Upper Demerara/ East Bank in the opening round before losing to Lower Corentyne by nine wickets at Albion Community Centre Ground in the second round. Today they will face second placed East Coast at world the former international venue Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) Ground, Bourda and it is expected to be a tall task for Georgetown against East Coast. However, the latter is without the service of two of its key players, Rajendra Chandrika and Paul Wintz, who are scheduled for a WICB training camp in Barbados at the weekend.
Although the Georgetown team is without its most senior player and original skipper Leon Johnson, stand in skipper Barnwell is very optimistic of his team’s ability. “I know we should be in a better place currently, unfortunately we are not, so we will have to regroup and execute what we know to have better results.”
He said he will be urging his players to do what they know and what they have learnt to get the best out of them.”There are always bad patches as a sportsman, however, you just have to persevere through those periods and continue to work on what you know and have learnt to provide yourself with the best opportunities.”
When questioned on what to expect from Georgetown in this round, Barnwell was quick to say there will be better performance from now onwards.
The right handed batsman himself has not been in best of form, however, he plans to improve his game so the team could benefit and Georgetown could get on the winning track.

Unpreparedness resulted in dull performances ― Coach Leacock

Coach of the four-member tennis squad which recently represented Guyana at the International Tennis Federation Under-12 Junior Development Tournament in Curacao, Leyland Leacock, says his team dull performance was due to unpreparedness.
Speaking to Guyana Times Sport, Leacock said due to limited facilities his team practice sessions were reduced to a mere two hours per day for a two-week period thus the results was poor. “In comparison with the other competing nations the necessary resources are afforded to them to develop their games to be quality competitors. However in our case there are limited resources (especially facility) to develop top players.”
Nevertheless he is of the view that the four players who represented Guyana are very talented and could match any opponent once their skills are nurtured and they are afforded with the adequate training.

National U-12 tennis team (from L-R) Sekai Akilah Jones, Vadeanand Resaul, Coach Leyland Leacock, Adesh Khayyam and Sarah Klautky prior to their departure

National U-12 tennis team (from L-R) Sekai Akilah Jones, Vadeanand Resaul, Coach Leyland Leacock, Adesh Khayyam and Sarah Klautky prior to their departure

None of the players made it out of the consolation group to the main bout but they all managed wins which the coach said was due to their eagerness to perform. Trinidad won the boys’ category while Jamaica dominated the girls’ competition.
Guyana was represented by two girls and two boys at the event which is ITF’s signature annual tournament for identification of emerging talent in the Region.  The players were selected based on their domestic performance; the two girls selected based on all year round performance locally and overseas, while the two boys were selected based on all year round performance – selection of five boys playoffs round robin Vadeanand Resaul, Wayne Baker, Adesh Khayyam, Nigel Lowe, Anish Sharma.
The national team comprised Girls – Sarah Klautky, 12 years old, and Sekai Akilah Jones, 11; and the Boys – Vadeanand Resaul, 11 and Adesh Khayyam, 11 years old.
The Guyana Tennis Association received financial support from the ITF to ensure they prepare and field participants at the event.
However, Leacock believes the government should be more instrumental in ensuring that there are proper facilities to enable top results. “The Guyana Lawn Tennis Association cannot make this happen without government’s influence. They (government) should assist to build courts to facilitate players’ development,” urged Leacock.
According to Leacock, who travelled with the team, it is always a privilege to represent your country and he believes the players performed to the best and would have learnt from the event to help them in their growth for future tournament.

Evicted Robb Street vendors to return today

mull legal action against M&CC over spoilt perishables

One day after they were evicted without notice, cash crop vendors plying their trade on Robb Street, Georgetown – between Alexander and Bourda Streets – will return to the vending area as of today, following a meeting with Town Clerk Royston King, on Wednesday.

Evicted vendors on Tuesday afternoon

Evicted vendors on Tuesday afternoon

King, however, threatened the vendors that should they fail to keep the area clean; a permanent ban will be imposed.

“In other words, there would be no going back, you have to keep the place clean,” King warned as he explained that it was the vendor’s failure to maintain the sanitation of the area that led to the eviction.

However, the vendors said that their garbage compactor, which City Hall had in the vicinity, was removed by the municipality. With no place to dump the garbage, the vendors said after cleaning the area, they are forced to pile the garbage in one location with the hope that the Council will remove it.

Sanitation fee

Further, they questioned King’s claims, arguing that shortly after the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) took office in May 2015, they were told by City Constables that they have to pool money to help clean up the city and ever since they are required to either pay $1000 monthly as sanitation fee to clean the area or assist with the cleaning, which they said they have been adhering to.

“When the new Government go in power last year, they tell we that we have to donate money to clean the city up and me and the people them who selling deh put together and give them forty something thousand dollars… we give wan constable and she tek it inside the constabulary,” one vendor stated, adding that they continue to pay the $1000 monthly.

When questioned if receipts are issued, the vendor answered in the negative, stating that, “them constables does come round with a book and does write down we name and the money abee give them, they add am up and tek it to the constab.”

However, People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Councillor on the City Council, Bishram Kuppen, said he was alarmed at this revelation, since the revenue department of the M&CC is the only body authorised to collect monies on behalf of the Council and for all revenues collected, a receipt must be issued.

Protest

Meanwhile, the vendors protested at the Communities Ministry in Kingston, Georgetown, with placards bearing slogans such as, “Royston King must go” and “we need justice”.

In their chants, the protesters expressed complete dissatisfaction at the actions of the Town Clerk. “Weh we gon go? How we gon mek a living? This injustice got to stop!” one vendor asserted.

However, King was unmoved, stating that not even the GMVU could influence a decision made by the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) to stop vending.

Legal action

The merchants, many of whom travelled from as far as Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), have complained about millions in losses over the past two days due to spoilage of their produce and are seeking legal advice on a possible lawsuit against the M&CC to recover the revenue they lost.

They are contending that the municipality failed to give them any notice of the eviction and therefore is responsible for their loss.

“We lose a lot because of the Council, so yes we are going to take legal action because we still have to pay the farmers. We have family, I have children to send to school and I live in a renting house… they didn’t tell we in advance that we can’t sell,” one retail vendor stated.

Another man stated that he is fed up with the way City Hall treats vendors and is also backing his colleagues with any legal challenge.

“They must take responsibility and pay for we goods which spoil. Royston King like he doesn’t like vendors, so he punishing we all them time, first Stabroek now here. We gon sue them. Somebody gotta pay for our goods, look how we lose money and them don’t care, none of them,” another irate woman stated.

Meanwhile, a group of the affected vendors met with a delegation from the Leader of the Opposition’s Office to voice their frustration about the removal, among other issues.

“The Office of the Leader of the Opposition notes that once again the Mayor and Town Clerk are taking bread out of peoples’ mouths, creating greater hardships and increasing the cost of living for all the citizens, not only in Georgetown, but across the country,” a statement from the Opposition Leader’s Office said.

Speaking with this newspaper after the meeting, one vendor said while President David Granger is on record urging persons to become entrepreneurs, because of his Government’s inability to provide jobs for the thousands of unemployed persons, City Hall, controlled by Granger’s APNU/AFC coalition, is trying to destroy small businesses, referring to City Hall’s eviction.

“I saw the President on TV talking about we should become our own entrepreneurs, but on the other hand, look at what they are doing here to us. If we can’t sell and make an honest living, then our only options are to go hungry, thief or beg,” the man stated. (Edward Layne)

 

Miller requests time to pay farmers

Leguan rice farmers court case

Rice farmers living on the Essequibo Island of Leguan are expected to begin garnering earnings over the next several months, after almost two years of not receiving full payments for their paddy.

Arjune Raghuber had noted that he was owed some $350,000 by the rice miller

Arjune Raghuber had noted that he was owed some $350,000 by the rice miller

According to reports reaching Guyana Times, the proprietor of Leguan Rice Mill Inc has promised to pay the hundreds of thousands of dollars owed to rice farmers on the island.

The rice miller’s commitment comes in light of a High Court battle between him and the Leguan farmers; all parties involved have faced challenges since the collapse of the PetroCaribe Venezuela rice deal last year.

According to information reaching this publication, the miller, who is the defendant, asked to be granted a six-month period to pay off the farmers.

<<<Guyana Times>>> was also told that the miller intends to pay $2000 per bag of paddy. However, rice farmers on the island have noted that their prior agreement with the miller was $3000 per bag.

Young rice farmer Mahendra Tularam had called for the enforcement of the Rice Producers Act

Young rice farmer Mahendra Tularam had called for the enforcement of the Rice Producers Act

The majority of farmers have rejected the $1000 decrease, while a few others are reportedly contemplating accepting the reduced offer.

This newspaper understands that failure to pay off the farmers will result in the proprietor of Leguan Rice Mill Inc being issued with a $2 million levy.

The miller had contended that farmers were not paid as a result of the difficulties rice millers were also facing.

On March 1, the rice miller had opined that if the Venezuela oil for rice deal had continued, the industry would have stood a better chance, as millers would have more funds in their coffers and farmers would have received their payments.

At that time, however, this publication was informed that despite the many complaints, millers did have some success in finding alternative markets for the rice to be sold. The miller had, however, observed that more assistance should have come from Central Government.

Meanwhile, the Leguan rice farmers have been adamant that they must be paid for their produce. They had appealed to the Rice Producers Association and the Agriculture Ministry, through its Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) sub-agency, but to no avail.

In fact, Agriculture Minister Noel Holder had suggested that the non-payment issue is a matter that should be sorted out between rice farmers and their respective millers.

During an earlier visit to Leguan,<<<Guyana Times>>>was told that depleted rice acreage by the then existing El-Niño weather patterns, coupled with the non-payment by millers had forced many farmers to withdraw money from their savings, while others had no choice but to sell-off significant portions of their livestock.

One farmer, Arjune Raghuber, had revealed that the miller owed him $350,000, while 29-year-old MahendraTularam claimed that he was owed $730,000.

Tularam had called for the enforcement of the Rice Factory Act which he opined was in place to compel millers to pay what was owed to farmers.

He further explained that millers should pay half of the money to farmers within two weeks, while the rest should be paid in 42 days.

 

Sports development

Dear Editor,

In another section of the media under the headline, “GOA pledges $1m yearly for BAIRD… NSC to help UG scholarship athletes”, I believe this is Guyana’s downfall with sports development. Why is it that I can’t read a headline that say’s that Guyanese athletes will receive fully pledged financial support from all stake holders, which includes the GOA, AAG, GTU, NSC, GDF, PS, GPF and the Ministry of Education/Sports? I have preached it a million times over that Guyana is not prepared financially to undertake the full cost of the development of athletes to rub shoulders with elite athletes of the globe. Why is the GOA reaching out to the NSC to ‘lend assistance?’ Why is the GOA hoping that the GDF will pitch in to help “BAIRD’ who is employed/works by/for that agency? The 2017 World Championships is slated for London, has Guyana identified which potential athletes they have currently in preparation for this meet? Or is it the usual that at the last minute, we will select persons and expect them to medal? On the other hand I am grateful to witness the financial help pledged to athletes heading off overseas for training/preparation, but I honestly do not foresee myself jumping out my seat with Guyana qualifying for any finals with the locally based athletes anytime soon… triple-jumper and USA based athlete, Troy Doris, is an exception.

Yours faithfully,

T Pemberton