Stop peddling misinformation in Berbice as to flood relief

Dear Editor,
Please allow me a space in your letter columns to share my views as to the misinformation being peddled by former AFC executives in Berbice.
Both gentlemen are well known for being part of the previous Government. During some recent televised and live Facebook programmes, both gentlemen seemed to be upwards-downwards peddling misinformation about the Government’s cash grant to farmers.
They both seemed to be bent on telling the public the truth about what took place after numerous complaints were made by farmers that their names are excluded on the list that was prepared by local officials towards the cash grant.
However, at one time both gentlemen would praise the Government by thanking President Ali and Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo for such a great programme, and, on the other hand, they would attack the Government by slamming the Minister of Agriculture and its agencies. Seems they are playing the one foot here and one foot their game.
I am not defending the officials who submitted the first list of beneficiaries for the grant. It was done in a short period of time and to the best of their knowledge, so we must accept that they did what they had to in putting together the info needed in a short period.
However, I believe that they did that list without going house to house to have a firsthand look, to know exactly if the names on the list should be there or not. I believe that is where the problems started.
However, both gentlemen are making some serious allegations about persons who have already collected the grant, that they have done so illegally because they are not farmers. They also say that those names that were left out are the real farmers. They also said that multiple persons in one household received the cash grant by claiming to be farming the same.
I would like to enlighten the two gentlemen that the Hon Vice President, a few weeks ago, publicly said that those who should be on the list and are not there have one month to do so. Also, the VP publicly said anyone who collected the cash grant when they did not qualify have to repay the amount that was given.
In Berbice three offices were set up for said purpose, and direct numbers were provided so that anyone with info on persons collecting the grant when they should not have collected could provide the info of those persons. All the information given, we were told, would be treated confidentially.
However, until this day, I did not hear any of the two gentlemen call in to give any info as to anyone that collected that should not get that cash grant.
I am challenging both of those men to come forward and provide the names of the persons that received the grant by providing false information to the officials, and I am publicly calling on the Police to investigate the same.
I am calling on both gentlemen to stop peddling lies, and give info as to who and who collected that should not have.
I must commend the Hon VP Bharrat Jagdeo and Minister of Agriculture, the Hon Zulifikar Mustapha, for the extension of time given so that those persons whose names weren’t on the list can have their names now on it.
Let’s work to better the agriculture sector, rather than to peddle lies and deception for fame and personal aims.

Regards
Abel Seetaram
Former AFC
Executive
and
RDC Reg 5 Councillor