Guyana Times article misleading – Nand Persaud and Company Ltd.

DPI, Guyana, Friday, March 16, 2018

Chief Executive Officer of Nand Persaud and Company, Rajendra Persaud has labelled as “blatantly misleading,” reports published by the Guyana Times on March 15.

The article under the caption “Rice Milling Company blasts GRDB’s ‘No outbreak’ report” claimed that following a response by the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) to a previously published article in the opposition-aligned newspapers, the rice company issued a statement refuting claims by the GRDB that there was no outbreak of the worm associated with the water weevil as reported.

However, in a letter dated March 15 and addressed to Mr. Nizam Hassan, General Manager of the Guyana Rice Development Board, the CEO of one of the country’s largest rice dealer said the newspaper article was a misrepresentation of the company’s position on the matter.

“We wish to state categorically that the headline, “Rice Milling Company blasts GRDB’s “no outbreak” report’ which appeared in the Guyana Times dated 15^th March 2018 is  blatantly misleading  since the contents of our press release was advisory in nature and did not seek to discredit GRDB or its employees,” Rajendra Persaud wrote.

Further, Persaud said the newspaper sought to misrepresent its advice as a means of justifying the claims previously refuted by the GRDB.

“Excerpts from the advisory were juxtaposed and spliced within the article to not only give credence to that headline but also attempted to give credibility to an earlier article published by that media house,” Persaud continued.

Additionally, the company representative said the agronomist appears to have had a different agenda to that of the company and has since had his services were terminated with immediate effect.

By way of the said letter, the company expressed satisfaction with the partnership which exists between itself and the GRDB and said it hopes to extend same.

Meanwhile, the GRDB said Plant Hopper was identified in the Upper Corentyne district towards the latter part of February and farmers were advised to spray immediately with a systemic insecticide.

According to a press release from the GRDB, all the areas in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) are being monitored and Water Weevil larvae were found only in one rice field in the Number 55 area up to this time. The rice development authority further said that farmers who followed its recommendations received effective control and their rice fields are growing healthy again since February, while those farmers who did not use the recommended insecticides did not achieve any control resulting in a third generation of Plant Hoppers in those fields today.

“Matador is a systemic insecticide which was effective in controlling the plant hopper.  It will also be effective for the water weevil larvae.  It was recommended in rotation with other systemic insecticides. Farmers who sprayed the recommended insecticides got control.  Farmers who dropped the insecticide in the water did not receive any control since this method was not expected to give control,” the release said.

It further advised that stunted growth and yellowing or browning of leaves would have been evident from the second generation of Hoppers persisting in the field.  Grain filling will also be affected if there is no control.

Hoja Blanca disease which is caused by a virus was never recorded in Guyana.  Plants infected with Hoja Blanca will have white leaves thus the name ‘white leaf disease’. The Plant Hoppers would have to feed on rice plants infected with Hoja Blanca to be able to transmit or spread the disease to other healthy plants.

The Board strongly advises farmers to follow the advice of its Officers.

 

By: Kidackie Amsterdam