–To APNU’s ridiculous call to phase out sugar

THE main opposition, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), yesterday, through their member Tony Vieira, called for the scaling down of operations at the state-owned Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).
He’s also suggesting that those lands used for sowing sugar cane be now used instead for fish farming and cane-derived ethanol. For that matter, he feels that Guyana should get out of the sugar business entirely, because of

a number of factors militating against it, such as heavy rainfall; the need for several tons of cane to yield just one ton of sugar; and the inordinate length of time it takes to get the cane to the factory due to a shortage of labour.
But the ruling party would not hear of it, and in response has made it clear that it will continue to work to ensure that the sugar industry remains relevant, and that its employees are secure in their jobs.
“The PPP assures all sugar workers that it will continue to stand by them, and will continue to work to protect their interest and that of their families,” the party said in a statement last evening. “The party will not sit idly by and allow APNU to achieve its callous objective of taking away the livelihoods of the workers,” it added.
Noting that it views APNU’s call as “part and parcel of its long-held desire” to deprive sugar workers of their jobs, thereby demoralising and reducing their capacity to provide for their families and their children’s future, the PPP said:
“The party will not allow APNU to trample on the livelihoods of the workers; our party has worked tirelessly to improve the lives of all Guyanese through the continuous transformation of Guyana. Sugar workers are an integral part of this process and as such their advancement through job security must be assured.”

SCANT REGARD
Charging APNU with having little or no regard for sugar workers and their families, and being not only callous but insensitive as well, the PPP said:
“The call by the APNU must be viewed as wanton disregard for the well-being and livelihoods of thousands of sugar workers and their families across the sugar belt.
“The APNU’s call for the shutting down of the sugar industry must be deemed reckless and total disrespect for sugar workers, their dependants and the thousands of others who benefit directly and indirectly.
“The PNC/APNU has, by this call, shown scant regard for the sugar industry and the thousands who depend on it for their livelihoods.”
Recalling a time when Guyana was virtually brought to its knees, thanks in no small measure to the PNC administration’s gross mismanagement  of the economy, the PPP said:
“The sugar industry was not spared, and production spiralled downwards drastically. It was the PPP, under the leadership of the late Dr. Cheddi Jagan, that revived the industry, and saw increased production and improved conditions for the workers, despite the challenges faced.
“Now that the PNC, through APNU, is in the Opposition, their efforts to impose hardships on the nation and its people continue.”
Noting too that these sheenanigans the Opposition has been employing of late is evidence of their true intention, which is to “deprive Guyanese of the advancements” they now enjoy, the party said:
“The PPP has, since its establishment, always struggled and fought for the rights and well-being of sugar workers, as reflected in its annual observance of Enmore Martyrs Day and the construction of the new factory at Skeldon.
“…the stringent measures imposed by the European Union resulted in many challenges for the local industry and were in many ways responsible for some countries in the Caribbean closing their factories, thereby putting thousands on the breadline.
“The PPP-led Administration, cognisant of the tremendous loss this could bring to bear on sugar workers and the country, given sugar’s contribution to the economy, took the bold and visionary step to save the industry and jobs through the construction of the Skeldon factory. While there are some teething challenges with the factory, it remains pivotal to the future of the industry and its workers.”
(By Vanessa Narine)