DNA member Mahinder Jogi on Tuesday expressed concerns in parliament about developments in the rice sector. According to him, the illegal import of rice threatens to further worsen the problems within the sector. He called on the government to take firm action and protect farmers.
Jogi referred to the shipment of approximately 385 tonnes of rice from Guyana that was recently seized in Nickerie. “How is it possible that rice was imported from Guyana without a permit?” he asked.
The parliamentarian said he was surprised that customs had, according to him, released part of the cargo while the required documents were missing. He described this as a serious economic offence and asked the government what measures would be taken against the customs officer involved. In doing so, he spoke of alleged corruption.
Jogi also wanted to know whether action would be taken against the entrepreneur who, according to him, had committed criminal acts. “The entrepreneur has also shown no regard for the farmers, who toil day and night in the mud,” he stated.
According to Jogi, the situation in the sector is particularly worrying. “People are dying in the rice sector,” he said. He provided no further explanation for this statement in the submitted text.
Jogi stressed that the government must intervene to protect farmers. “The government must not allow this, otherwise this will mean the beginning of the end of the rice sector. Everything in Nickerie depends on the rice sector, so this must not be left as it is.”
