Agri Ministry condemns APNU/AFC’s malicious, bogus claims

Dear Editor,
The Ministry of Agriculture condemns, in its strongest possible terms, the malicious and bogus claims by the desperate APNU/AFC that farmers in Baracara did not receive assistance as part of the Government’s flood relief efforts.
These claims are a figment of the imagination of the wild men in the PNC/APNU/AFC, and are intended to play on ethnic sentiments – a known tactic of the Opposition to foment strife and discord.
The truth is that, following the floods, the Ministry of Agriculture deployed extension staff and regional officials to conduct several rounds of assessment in all farming communities in the country, which resulted in all affected farmers – including those in Baracara – who suffered losses as a result of the floods, benefiting from the relief grants.
Furthermore, the records will show that both livestock and cash-crop farmers from Baracara benefited from the grant; their signatures are on the distribution records of the Ministry of Agriculture. Additionally, fifty-one (51) cash-crop farmers received cash grants for flood relief. Farmers also received limestone, fertilizers, and farming tools, along with vegetable seeds and seedlings.
With regard to livestock, an additional fifty-four (54) farmers benefited from relief grants ranging between $50,000 and $500,000.
On August 11, 2022, His Excellency President Dr. Irfaan Ali made a historic visit to Baracara and committed additional resources for farmers of that community and others in the Berbice River, including clearing of farmlands, drainage and irrigation works, setting up a bee-keeping operation, providing farming tools, seeds and livestock, including Black Giant chickens and two replacement Brahman bulls. These were all delivered to the community. As a matter of fact, Baracara is the only community that benefited from both financial and biological assets in the form of replacement bulls following the 2021 floods.
What we stated above was reported widely in the press, and could be easily validated. However, we are not surprised the Opposition choose to deliberately mislead the public on this matter in their deliberate bid to paint the People’s Progressive Party/Civic in a negative light. The reality is that the APNU/AFC is embarrassed at the fact that, for five years, it failed to provide any support to Baracara and many other communities which it fallaciously claims to be its ‘stronghold’.
We assure all farmers and citizens of this country that the PPP/C will continue to govern in the interest of all Guyanese. We will continue to equitably distribute the resources to everyone. We therefore urge the people of Guyana to ignore the racist campaign of the desperate and deflated Opposition, whose modus operandi is to create division and racial hostility among our people.
Let us focus on the bright and promising future ahead as we work together in support of President Ali’s vision for a ‘One Guyana’.

Sincerely,
Ministry of Agriculture