8 NEWS
WEEK ENDING MAY 22, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com
Contract workers to fit into Mahaicony rice farmers permanent structure of pleading for Govt’s assistance public service, says Harmon - say unsure about future of next crop
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inister of State Joseph Harmon said Government is currently in the process of streamlining contract workers to fit them into the permanent structure of the public service. He was at the time speaking to journalists following the handing over of the final report of the investigation into the public service to Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Barton Scotland. According to Harmon, Government has decided to go this route based on recommendations coming out of the recent Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the Public Service. Harmon told journalists that more than 100 persons who were employed on a contractual basis are now part of the regular public service. According to him, Government is also working to ensure that no significant hiccups are experienced with the change. Just recently, chartered accounting firm Ram and McRae pointed out that too much strain was being placed on the public coffers with the employment of contracted workers. It made the significant finding following the delivery of this year’s national budget. The firm noted the Ministry of the Presidency’s increase in contract employees from 298 in 2015 to 505 in 2016, as well as an increase in the cost of wages and salaries for contract employees from Gy$142 million to Gy$798 million. The firm pointed to the significant increas-
BY SHEMUEL FANFAIR
W
Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo receives a copy of the CoI report from Minister of State, Joseph Harmon
es in the item which showed the allocation to the Office of the Prime Minister, with the cost of wages and salaries for contracted employees rising from Gy$21 million to Gy$82 million. It also addressed the Ministry of Public Infrastructure which saw an increase from Gy$9 million to Gy$51 million in a particular programme and Gy$182 million to Gy$533 million under its Public Works Programme. The firm had said that the practice was “not healthy” for the country and placed a strain on Article 38 of the Constitution which requires the public service to be free from political influence. Meanwhile, following discussions at Cabinet level on Tuesday, Minister of State Joseph Harmon on Wednesday presented copies of the final report of the Inquiry into the public service to House Speaker, Dr Barton Scotland
and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo. Government in September 2015 established the three-member Commission to investigate, report on, and make recommendations on the role, functions, recruitment process, remuneration and conditions of service for public servants. The Commission was also expected to determine measures to improve the efficiency of the public service and have a detailed examination of how salaries and wages are determined and allocated. According to Harmon, Cabinet is now expected to consider the recommendations made by the Commission after which a pronouncement will be made. The Minister said copies of the report will also be delivered to the President of the Guyana Public Service Union, the Trade Union Congress and the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana.
ith the collapse of the lucrative PetroCaribe (rice for oil) Venezuela deal last year, the challenges faced within the rice industry have been significant. With this in mind, farmers have reiterated calls for the deal to return as it would likely increase their earnings in price per bag of paddy. On Thursday, rice farmers of Branch Road, Mahaicony, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) told Guyana Times International that for the past few crops, they have not been able to achieve any substantial
some payments have been paid by rice mills in the area, they still owed we.” Her husband pointed out that it was because of his financial woes that his wife was forced to help in his operations. He stated further that he cannot afford to employ other workmen. Another farmer, Deonarine Sasenarine said he would usually plant 150 acres but will not plant any for the upcoming crop because of the low prices in the industry. At present, rice farmers are receiving between Gy$1800 and Gy$2000 per bag of pad-
money to send them… [they] got exam to write and you got to get money to buy the text books,” Ramotar further explained. “We need the President to look into this, right now we nah get no proper price – Gy$2000 a bag of paddy can’t pay, you got to pay operator, and [workers] to fetch your paddy,” noted Feroza Hussein. “We need some help to go back into the field and we need we money to…” was the call they echoed to Agriculture Minister Noel Holder. “Rice farmer ah feed this country and they supposed to stand up for [us]… we need help
Rice farmers Shamila Ally, Shrawan Kumar, Deonarine Sesnarine, Astraf Ally
profits from the industry. Astraf and his wife, Shamila Ally said that they lost “a lot” since the deal was abruptly ended. “We bust a lot from that and the [miller] owe we a lot. For 2014, we didn’t get paid… then we get to turn over lil bit and we tek loan,” Mrs Ally explained. She also stated that while
dy and many have said that this is not profitable. Meanwhile, Kevil Vox, who has planted rice for over 30 years, called on Government to provide assistance for fertiliser and seed paddy. It was explained that the dry weather patterns damaged much of the acreage which would hamper the ability for farmers to obtain seed paddy to go in the next crop. To this end, many farmers said that Agriculture Minister Noel Holder should meet with them to address their concerns. Meanwhile, the family members of some farmers also told this publication that Government subsidies on fertilisers and equipment are necessary for their survival. “We need a better price, we need some help to go back into the field, because right now it very hard on farmers, right now the millers owe we a set of money and we can’t go back into the field,” noted Tajwantie Ramotar. She also noted that children are being affected. “It affect de children dem very bad because [they can’t go to school] and you need
man, this can’t work out,” another woman shouted. In a recent presentation to the National Assembly, shadow Finance Minister Irfaan Ali called for the removal of taxes and duties on fuel for the industry, and the removal of all taxes and duties on machinery, equipment and spares. Though the PetroCaribe deal was due for expiration in November of 2015, Venezuela axed the rice deal months before the official due date. However, Government had said in March that the Spanish-speaking nation may still be purchasing Guyana’s rice, but through neighbouring Suriname. The PetroCaribe deal was sealed by then President Bharrat Jagdeo and late Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez. Under this deal, Guyana was required to pay upfront a percentage of the cost of fuel acquired from Venezuela, with the balance, which was placed in the PetroCaribe Fund at the Bank of Guyana, being treated as a loan repayable over 23 years, with a two-year grace period and two per cent interest.