No government has betrayed the farmers in this country more than the People’s Partnership Government. So said Diego Martin Central MP Dr Amery Browne on Friday during his contribution to the The Sugar Industry Control Board (Repeal) (Validation) Bill, 2013. He went on to say no government had “deceived” farmers more than the current one and destroyed more crops. He then referred to the Oropouche West MP but was stopped by Government MPs, citing Standing Order 36 (5).
The word deceived raised an alarm but House Speaker Wade Mark rose only to say, “Yeah, yeah...ammm...let’s...continue, please.” Browne read from a column written by Anand Ramlogan in January 2010—before he became Attorney General—titled Black and White Facts. Browne quoted Ramlogan’s column, “Although I was pilloried and vilified in the last general election for saying Panday was responsible for the closure of Caroni, Kamla has now made a similar criticism.
“It is a fact, Panday mishandled Caroni. “The closure of Caroni was started by the Panday government which was ready to dismantle it and sell it off.” Browne read extensively from the column, which dealt with the closure of the sugar company. He said his message for farmers or anyone involved in the sugar cane industry was that the Government could not be trusted at all. He said Caroni (1975) Ltd was the most precious opportunity for the Government.
Browne said, “When they wanted to crush and destroy Mr Panday, that was the weapon against him. “They said he was the one...his adminstration...the UNC under Mr Panday, who started the destruction of Caroni (1975) Ltd. “Now that they are in government, Mr Speaker, they have erased that memory and are now trying to use the same Caroni closure and pin it on the People’s National Movement. “Mr Speaker, that is political schizophrenia.”