“Gad why this government ah do this to poor people…” -Black Bush Polder protester cries

“Gad why this government ah do this to poor people…” -Black Bush Polder protester cries

Region 6,  East Berbice-Corentyne, which heavily supports the installed PPP was thrown into protest earlier yesterday, as rice farmers in Black Bush Polder felt the direct impact of rising costs of living. Additionally, the effects of rising cost of living in Guyana has forced the rural agriculture based economy which is heavily supportive of  the PPP/C into protest earlier yesterday morning.

In Region Six, peasant farmers cultivate rice and sell it to the factory ‘miller’ who process the rice for either the local market or export. However, millers within the Region 6 area have cut back on the price paid per tonne of rice from $70,000 to $65,000 in light of rising costs for fuel to run their factories among other issues associated with the cost of commodities in the marketplace.

Protesters ignored David Armogan, the PPP/C appointed Regional Chairman, due to his failure to address concerns they had about the rising cost of living. The protesters block sections of the road at Lesbeholden with an old tractor and debris, disrupting traffic and closing businesses in the Polder and Mibicuri agriculture belt.

Dahnish Sookramann, 37, highlighted how crucial it was for his paddy to be sold at $70,000 per tonne and nothing less. He said that a dollar less would mean that his family will go homeless and the bank would move in to foreclose.

Savitri Mosley, 36, spoke on behalf of her father and brother, by expressing concerns on how she will feed her six (6) children and pay for their education. Pointing to her second child’s photo, she tearfully explained how difficult it has been to provide for the children.

Like the other protesters, Savitri recalled the country’s largest budget, which stood at $552.9 billion for 2022 as compared to $383.1 billion in 2021. With head lifted to the sky, she cried out “gad why this government ah do this to poor people, money fuh dem friends build hotel, road and falls but we pickney dem barely can eat,” she cried out.