Dear Editor,
It is high time this urgent public attention be brought to the continued plight of workers attached to the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), operating under the Ministry of Agriculture – Guyana. These dedicated public servants attached to the semi-autonomous agency have reportedly not received their gratuity and leave passage payments since November 2025, and to date, there has been no satisfactory explanation from the relevant authorities.
For several months, affected workers — including technical (Research Assistants, Supervisors) and frontline staff — have been seeking answers from upper management at the GRDB. Unfortunately, their concerns have been met with silence and uncertainty. From all indications within the Accounts Department, no directives have been issued to facilitate the processing of these payments. This is both troubling and unacceptable.
These payments are not acts of charity; they are contractual and statutory obligations owed to employees who continue to serve the nation’s rice industry with professionalism and dedication. The prolonged delay reflects poorly on the leadership and administrative competence within the Ministry of Agriculture. Even more concerning is the growing sentiment among workers that this is not an isolated incident. Many have indicated that the GRDB had previously failed to make these payments in a timely manner, suggesting a disturbing pattern of administrative neglect that is now becoming far too frequent.
I therefore call directly on the Honourable Minister of Agriculture to intervene immediately and ensure that all outstanding gratuity and leave passage payments to GRDB workers are made forthwith. Public servants should not have to beg for what is rightfully theirs.
Regrettably, the situation unfolding at the GRDB appears symptomatic of a broader pattern of mismanagement under the Ministry of Agriculture. One need only look at the ongoing challenges within the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), where contractors have reportedly been awaiting payments since last year, while the corporation is said to owe approximately $2 billion in workers’ contributions to the National Insurance Scheme (NIS). Such failures reflect a worrying level of administrative incompetence and disregard for workers’ welfare.
The hardworking men and women of our agricultural sector deserve leadership that is accountable, responsive, and competent. If the Minister has the competency he must not allow the GRDB to descend into the same state of disorder that has plagued GuySuCo. The time for excuses has long passed. Immediate action is required to restore confidence, uphold workers’ rights, and demonstrate that the Ministry of Agriculture remains capable of responsible stewardship.