…as Jordan calls for independent probe
The Ministry of Agriculture has rejected allegations raised by APNU MP Vinceroy Jordan about agrochemicals at the Uitvlugt Estate, saying a stock count on October 29 found no discrepancy.
Jordan, in a statement posted on Facebook, called for an immediate, independent and transparent investigation into the alleged disappearance of millions of dollars’ worth of agrochemicals from the estate’s bond.
He said security personnel had reportedly alleged that employees of the estate removed chemicals without proper accounting.
“These are serious allegations involving public resources and must not be swept under the carpet,” Jordan stated.
He called on the government, the ministry and the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) to disclose how much stock was unaccounted for, who authorised its removal and where it was taken. His statement did not identify a specific quantity or value of chemicals allegedly missing or provide supporting records.
In response, the ministry said the allegations were inconsistent with the estate’s stock records and outlined the procedures governing the storage, issuing and use of herbicides.
“The most recent count was conducted on Thursday, October 29. There was no variance,” the ministry stated, adding that the records were available.
According to the ministry, physical stock counts are conducted every Thursday by the Stores Superintendent, the superintendent responsible for chemical weed control and security personnel.
It said the general stores bond operates under a dual-locking system, requiring both stores and security personnel to be present before it can be opened.
An electronic requisition approved by the Agriculture Manager is required before herbicides are issued, the ministry said. It added that daily issues are witnessed by stores, field and security personnel and recorded.
Only enough herbicide for one day’s work is transferred to the day bond, according to the ministry. Chemicals taken into cultivation remain under the supervision of the foreman and senior field staff, while unused quantities returned to the bond are recorded by the responsible superintendent and security.
Issues to cane farmers are restricted to Tuesdays and Thursdays and require requisitions signed by the Cane Farming Manager, Agriculture Manager, Finance Manager and Estate Manager, the ministry stated.
It argued that these arrangements provide multiple checks on the movement of chemicals. The underlying stock records were not included in the statement.
The ministry also said the allegation appeared to have originated with an individual facing an internal administrative matter at the estate. It did not identify the person or disclose the nature of that matter.
Jordan’s statement referred to allegations reportedly made by security personnel but did not name them.
“No worker will be victimised for raising a genuine concern,” the ministry said.
It added that management had reminded security personnel of the need for complete and accurate record-keeping and that any documentation lapses would be addressed administratively. Such lapses, it maintained, were not evidence that chemicals had disappeared.
Jordan, meanwhile, called for protection for persons raising concerns.
“The public deserves answers, workers deserve accountability, and taxpayers deserve to know what is happening to their money,” he said. “There must be no cover-up, no political protection and no attempt to silence those who raise legitimate concerns.”
The ministry’s response also criticised Jordan over previous allegations concerning agriculture and GuySuCo, which it said had been rejected by the relevant agencies. It further defended the government’s management of the sugar industry and criticised the closure of four estates under the former APNU+AFC administration.
The ministry did not announce an independent investigation of the kind Jordan requested, maintaining that the existing records did not support the allegation of missing chemicals.
GuySuCo’s management of agricultural inputs has come under scrutiny following its 2025 annual report. As previously reported the corporation acknowledged that adequate supplies of agrochemicals were a challenge during parts of the year. Labour shortages, equipment downtime and field layouts also hampered the timely application of fertilisers and herbicides. At December 31, 2025, the estates had 5,454.3 hectares of unfertilised cane.
The dispute also comes amid calls for greater financial accountability at the corporation. Kiskadee Watch previously reported that GuySuCo recorded a net loss of $16.9 billion in 2025 and that its auditors issued a disclaimer of opinion on the accounts. APNU subsequently called for an independent operational and financial review. In its response, the Agriculture Ministry defended its existing programme but acknowledged that expenditure alone did not establish success and that investment must produce improvements in productivity and farmers’ incomes.
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