Enquiry launched into Belle Vue cane farmers woes

The Ministry of Agriculture has appointed a team to enquire into the issues involved in the Belle Vue Cane Farmers Marketing Cooperative Society and to make recommendations for their solution.

According to a statement issued yesterday by Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud, the ministry is disappointed at the continuing impasse involving the society and the apparent inability of the responsible agencies to deal expeditiously with the issues.

The team which will conduct the enquiry comprises Secretary to the National Cane Farming Committee Muthuswammi Permaul, and Cecil Seepersaud and Randy Beckles of the Ministry of Agriculture.

The statement said that the production of sugar cane is crucial to the national economy. Its importance to the livelihoods of rural families and their quality of life is of paramount concern to this government, it added.

The statement also said that the Ministry of Agriculture is aware that problems exist in other cane farming cooperatives and will work closely with the Cooperatives Division of the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security to resolve them.

The issues involving the Belle Vue Cane Farmers Marketing Cooperative Society have been ventilated over a period in the letters to the editor column.