Dear Editor,
I THANK Mr Nowrang Persaud for his letter, but was not surprised with his expressed alarm at the use of the concept of “distributive leadership” in GuySuCo. I, however, would agree with him that this concept did originate in the education sector.

However, may I humbly advise him that this concept has successfully been tested and adopted in turning around failing companies with much success? So the concept is well used in industry today.

Changes in GuySuCo can be driven from the bottom up. The factory and field foremen can lead the way in reducing waste in the industry. We have to step out of the box and accept an alternative way. No need for any fear Mr Persaud, we all have to be realistic and accept that the old-style system of “a few big men” at the top has failed. Although elements of that system are still necessary, by and large, headquarters has to create greater space for the technicians and the workers to push the ideas to successfully turn around GuySuCo.

GuySuCo is exactly where it is today because the big men who ran the industry for years were not “pragmatic” and realistic, but relied on the old philosophy that headquarters knows it all; and in the end, they brought the industry to its knees. The old model failed, it is time to try what even Harvard University is recommending today.

Change is very hard to accept, especially for those who have done the same thing over and over for decades. The reality is: we do not have a choice. We cannot continue to run the industry in the same old command-and-control manner, or else it will die.

We cannot expect the Treasury, in the long run, to be pumping billions into this industry; it is just not economically feasible. What is certain is that there has to be a greater balance of power across the industry. Steps have to be taken to empower workers to more actively contribute, not only their labour, but also their ideas on how to improve the work process. It was Ralph Waldo Emerson who said: “In skating over thin ice, our safety is in our speed.” Our speed at embracing the necessary changes will be essential for success in GuySuCo.

Regards,
SASE SINGH