After perusing APNU+AFC’s 2020 manifesto, Opposition Member, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy is convinced that the agriculture sector has no future should the Coalition be re-elected.
The former Minister was keen to note that the party’s plans for agriculture occupies no meaningful space in its 2020 manifesto, accounting for less than 0.6% of the total number of lines.
The Opposition member pointed out that the only reference to sugar for example, is there will be a commission to study giving sugar workers land. The PPP member said that this promise was made previously but not an inch of land he said was given to any sugar worker.
Dr. Ramsammy also highlighted that the APNU+AFC Party, in its manifesto said that it will establish agriculture zones in all regions. He added, “They also have the temerity to repeat the promise of drone technology, a promise they made repeatedly during budget presentations. The farmers are still waiting…”
Furthermore, Dr. Ramsammy was keen to highlight that the APNU+AFC’s manifesto makes no reference to plans for rice, cash crops, fisheries and livestock, agricultural infrastructure and financial support. He believes that the foregoing justifies his conclusion that agriculture is basically dead in its boots if the Coalition returns to office.
Turning his attention to the APNU+AFC’s record in the sector, Dr. Ramsammy noted that Guyanese witnessed a most vicious assault on agriculture in the last five years.
Dr. Ramsammy reminded of the government’s decision to close several estates which essentially resulted in the 2019 sugar production being the lowest for more than 100 years. In this regard, he recalled that Guyana recorded below 100,000 tonnes.
Further to this, the Opposition Member noted that sugar workers were subjected to a five-year wage freeze, the longest wage freeze anywhere in the Caribbean for the last 100 years. Adding to this insult, Dr. Ramsammy reminded that the APNU+AFC party recently offered the beleaguered workers a one percent wage increase.
With respect to the rice industry, Dr. Ramsammy noted that rice farmers, through their hard work and resilience, have kept national production rates very high, providing an oasis of good news. In spite of this, Dr. Ramsammy reminded that the APNU+AFC did everything possible to discourage rice production in Guyana.
When the foregoing is taken into account, Dr. Ramsammy said he is convinced that the Coalition’s 2020 manifesto is an admission that it plans to de-emphasize the importance of agriculture in the Guyana of tomorrow.
