Guyana’s sugar industry, one of two within CARICOM, which remains viable, has been faced in recent years with several formidable challenges due to numerous factors-both internal and external.

As regards the challenges, there is simply no choice, they have to be overcome because the industry is the backbone of the national economy, being the largest contributor to the GDP, highest foreign exchange earner and the largest employer providing a livelihood for some 25,000 people through both direct and indirect employment.

Since the early 1990s the industry was lifted out of its slumber from the pre-1990s when production kept plummeting and in one particular year fell to as low as 129,000 tonnes.

However, after acceptable production levels ranging between 280,000 tonnes and over 300, 000 tonnes were restored, but in recent years production began to slide and this placed severe financial constraints on the industry.

On top of that the cuts in sugar prices by the European Union added further pressure.

However, internal factors such as poor management, the weather, strikes and a labour shortage also aggravated the situation.

Against this background, the unveiling of a three-year action plan, to turn around the fortunes of the industry ,is most timely and appropriate and those who prepared the plan must be lauded for the expeditious manner in which they executed this task. The latter was critical because time was a crucial factor.

GUYSUCO’s Chairman Dr. Nanda Gopaul was spot on when he observed that: “Simply pumping cash into Guysuco is not a viable solution. Guysuco’s cost base is unaffordable — more so in light of the very significant reduction in the price of sugar sold to the EU market, which used to be our most lucrative market to ensuring our survival and ensuring the viability of the company.”

He added: “But more importantly, putting emphasis on production in the fields…productivity must be improved.”

This is precisely the point, viability and the ability to be competitive can only come about by significantly improving productivity.

Therefore, the cost-cutting initiative of the action plan is an imperative and the management of GUYSUCO has to now move full steam ahead to implement the measures outlined in the plan.

However keen attention has to be paid to industrial relations, as there could be all these grandiose plans, but if there is worker dissatisfaction ,all the laudable objectives could be undermined. After all it is the workers who make the wheels of production turn. This issue cannot be treated lightly, or swept under the carpet.

One of the positive and pivotal developments in the present scenario, is the good news about the new Skeldon Sugar Factory ,which has been reported as being fully operational and soon to be formally commissioned.

This factory is a key component, in making the local sugar industry competitive and therefore everything has to be done, to ensure that it serves its intended purpose. So the results have been encouraging and all efforts must be made to have it functioning in a sustainable manner.

Our survival as a nation is integrally linked to the viability of the sugar industry, as such no effort must be spared to see it is restored to its former glory.