General Manager of Mahaicony Rice Limited (MRL) Taramatie Ghani, according to a paid advertisement in today’s Guyana Chronicle, is being sought in connection with outstanding payments to farmers.
The advertisement, headed “CONTACT”, states that “the authorities are trying to locate” Ghani and asks anyone with information to contact the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), the Guyana Rice Producers’ Association (GRPA) or the nearest police station.
Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud, when questioned today about the source of the advertisement, told Stabroek News that it was “issued by the farmers”.
Meanwhile, a senior official in the industry has said that the decision to publish the notice was taken by farmers after police told them that Ghani could not be found.
Police Public Relations Officer Ivelaw Whittaker, in a brief comment today, told this newspaper that the advertisement should not have invited persons to contact the police. “They can’t do that. If we are looking for somebody then we will issue a wanted bulletin,” Whittaker said.
MRL has more than $300 million outstanding to more than 100 farmers for paddy supplied since the first crop this year.
