AS AN ordinary citizen of this country, I would like to give my views as what is happening in the sugar industry in Guyana.
There has been a lot going on in the industry over the past six years, and we should all pay some attention, since it is of national interest. The industry has been progressing in many ways, for example, the New Skeldon Factory. However, when it comes to the production, there are some shortfalls, and this is affecting the industry. And we must relate to these as to what are the causes and effects, and we must realize that we are faced, on a daily basis, with the effects of Climate Change and other socio-economic problems.
The industry faced its worst times in 2005, when the floods hit the country. That disaster, with immediate effect, dropped production levels, and lots of planted fields were destroyed. Since then, the amount of problems has increased on the estates. However, the Industry has come around, and has been meeting targets, but then came the industrial actions by the GAWU workers. Strikes last week, strike this week, and maybe more strikes before the year comes to an end. This will definitely hamper production targets, and can create a shortfall in the industry.
Then, we ask ourselves: What is happening with the industry?
As I always say to my friends in the industry, if things are not right, there are procedures to deal with it (grievance procedures), but these days, unlike in the 80s, workers are not adhering to the grievance procedures; they just make irrational decisions and call a strike.
How will this benefit them and the industry? When this happens, the management and the workers take a much longer time to come to a positive conclusion, hence a longer time to get back into the fields.
We must keep in mind that the Industry is very important for the country, because it contributes between 17 and 18 per cent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and provides employment for more than 30, 000 persons.
GAWU needs to make more informed decisions for the workers that will ensure mutual benefits; for GuySuCo and the Workers as a concerted effort is needed to take the industry forward.