PARAMARIBO – Dozens of rice farmers who still haven’t received any money or who have received a small sum of money responded to the call of the Belangengroep Padieverbouwers Nickerie (BPN) and gathered at the Brasaplein on Wednesday.

 Ashwin Jagmohansingh, spokesman of the group, said that the farmers were summoned to get registered so that the organization can get a clear picture of the people who still haven’t received the money. There are also farmers who have received fertilizer as compensation but who also received the financial compensation. 

 Wallahbie explained that he had cultivated 150 hectares of land and that he also applied for the compensation but that he still has not received any money in his bank account. “I also haven’t received any fertilizer.” Jagmohansingh pointed out that it is not clear if these farmers will receive compensation. “There is no transparency and nobody communicates with us,” said  Jagmohansingh who disapproved of the behavior of the Ministry of Agriculture, Stockbreeding and Fisheries.

 Ten members of the  BPN were given a spot in the presidential group but are being kept in the dark. Sanjay Shadow, one of the ten members of the BPN who are part of the group, claimed that officials did not take the official registration seriously. He pointed out that money was deducted from farmers who did not even get fertilizer as compensation. Sanjay is puzzled by the fact that farmers who opted for the fertilizer instead of money never received the fertilizer…[+]