Rupununi farmers get 'peanuts' on C-Tax waiver
Stabroek News
May 21, 2004
Peanut farmers in the Rupununi are still waiting for a promised waiver of the 30% consumption tax on local peanuts to be implemented.
Clairmont Lye, President of the Beacon Foundation, noted that farmers should not be alarmed since these procedures take time.
Last year Lye led a pioneering effort to get farmers to begin planting in the savannahs which provides greater yields and conserves the forest.
Alfred Ramsarran, of the Rupununi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, noted that he is aware that the government agreed to drop the consumption tax but could not say why this was not yet implemented.
Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Manzoor Nadir said this measure was agreed to by the government a year ago and he was not aware that this waiver had not been implemented.
He said he would look into the matter.
Satyadeow Sawh, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Crops and Livestock said Geoffrey Da Silva, director of the Guyana Office for Investment is looking into this matter. Da Silva was not available for comment.