GOVERNMENT is committed to fulfilling its promise during the second part of this year as more than 2,000 redundant sugar workers are soon to receive the final portions of their severance pay.

Minister of State Joseph Harmon on Thursday disclosed that “Cabinet discussed payment of the second tranche of severance to sugar workers and iterated its commitment to honouring the agreement to make the remaining severance payment within the time it promised.”

According to Minister Harmon, the funds to meet this payment will come from amounts accumulated from budgetary cuts to several ministries and departments of state in keeping with a previous directive by Cabinet. “I did report this matter here that several ministries were asked to do a cutbacks on their budgetary allocations and we anticipated that all of the monies will come from that process. Half of it has already been paid and the second tranche will come directly from government sources and will be paid in the second half of the year,” Minister Harmon explained.

In February, Chief Executive Officer (ag) of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), Paul Bhim reported that “so far, 1,400 ex-employees have received their severance in full with the remainder awaiting the remaining 50 percent. About 3,700 employees were issued with severance letters and the government had approved the partial payment of the severance of 50%, but there was an adjustment to that because anybody with $500,000 or less were paid in full.”

The downsizing of the sugar industry to three estates is among recommendations outlined in a state paper on the future of the sugar industry. The end result will see GuySuCo consisting of three estates and sugar factories. The estates, complete with factories, would be Blairmont on the West Bank of Berbice, Albion-Rose Hall in East Berbice and the Uitvlugt-Wales Estate in West Demerara.