| The country’s largest rice milling company, which controls an estimated 40 per cent of purchases across the country, is facing the non-renewal of its operating licence over millions it is believed to owe farmers.The Ministry of Agriculture has since written lawyers for Mahaicony Rice Limited (MRL) asking that the company, which has mills in all three counties, “stop playing games” and to resolve this “sore issue of late/non-payment to farmers”.Earlier this month,Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys, MRL’s lawyer, Rajendra Poonai,Authentic Soccer Jerseys Free Shipping, wrote the Ministry complaining that the company’s efforts to obtain financial support had been impeded because of statements in the media, the most recent concerning the renewal of its licence and publications about its General Manager, “who has done no wrong”.Last year, farmers had claimed that in excess of $200M was owed to them by the company. However, there were discrepancies in what MRL says it owed and what the farmers were claiming.The regulators, Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB),Cheap Jerseys Store, had since attempted to carry out an audit of the books of the company, but officials there had reportedly refused to hand out records.Complaining to Minister Robert Persaud earlier this month,wholesale nfl jerseys, Poonai said that his client was concerned that the issue of an audit was being used as a threat to the business.“Mahaicony Rice Limited has placed their position on record regarding the audit,China NFL Jerseys, which is quite simple, there needs to be a guarantee as to the confidentiality of the process and joint application to the court for directions towards protecting the process.”MRL,NFL Jerseys From China, through its lawyer, asked the Minister to intervene in the non-renewal of the licence and more particularly “the media statements, the confidentiality of the proposed audit and the threat of legal proceedings against their employees.”However, Minister Persaud in his response, expressing “disgust at the continued litany of excuses”, said that rice farmers have been waiting for payments over a year now.“The statements made in your letter are not relevant to the obligation of your clients to pay the suppliers of paddy in a timely manner.”Persaud warned that the laws allow for authorities to withhold the operating licence unless conditions are met.“I also expect the Guyana Rice Development Board to enforce such legal provisions…this ongoing state of affairs is most discomforting given the continued growth of the rice industry and the need for all players to benefit from its expansion.”Amidst growing complaints by rice farmers over non-payments and delays of payments by millers for paddies supplied, there had been amendments to the Rice Factories Act which shortened the payment period and included interests.However, Government is now moving to also have millers lodge a percentage of their previous crops’ sales as a surety for payments. |
