… a catalyst to advance Guyana, Ramsammy says
THE idea of privatizing the sugar industry here, as raised by People’s National Congress Reform Presidential Candidate, Rtd. Brigadier David Granger, continues to draw attention. And Health Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, speaking in the capacity of Region Six (East Berbice/ Corentyne) representative in the National Assembly last week, contended that industries like sugar will catapult Guyana from a low income middle income country to a high income middle income country.
“The fact that the local sugar industry is still standing, and not facing the dismal future similar industries in other countries are up against, because of global changes, is a tribute to the sector,” he said.
Ramsammy stressed the fact that in Region Six and across the country, sugar plays an important role in the lives of many and has historically been important to people and their development.
“Guyana must support the sugar industry without any kind of resistance,” he said.
According to him, the fact that the industry’s operations are concentrated largely in Region Six is by no means an indication that it benefits that region only.  Its benefits stretch across the country.

Recovery and Sustainability
Ramsammy pointed out that when the current administration took over in the 1990’s, the sugar industry had collapsed.
“Have we recovered from that collapse?  The answer is yes; but we also had to put measures in place to ensure that the industry can be sustained; …we have had to restructure and reorganize the industry in the face of changing global realities ,” he said.
He noted that these realities include everything from climate change to poor turnout of workers and the loss of some $9B with changes in the European Union market.
However, Ramsammy maintained that the industry’s future is not as dismal as in other countries.
According to him, the current administration has advanced consistent progress that has seen Guyana move from the lowest in the low income countries to a low income middle income country – an effort resulting from the advancement of consistent policies from 1992 to date.
“We can move up to a high income middle income country, a status comparable to successful countries like Barbados…our vision is advancement, but it will not happen if sugar and bauxite, ICT (Information Communication and Technology) and our fledgling manufacturing industries are not encouraged,” Ramsammy proffered. 
“We have moved from a state of hopelessness to hopeful vision, where there are opportunities in every sense for the people of Guyana…for every citizen it is an imperative to demand that the sugar industry be protected and encouraged to assist the overall development of the country,” Ramsammy said.

Privatization’s Cost
Ramsammy acknowledged that not all the estates are producing sugar below the market price, in particular the Demerara Estates; but he pointed out that in private hands, according to him and most business-smart people, the low performing estates will be closed.
He explained that were these estates to be closed in private hands, the government will still not be better off.
“GuySuCo undertakes certain drainage and irrigation works as part of its operations and if these costs were to be subtracted, the estates would be profitable….in private hands these drainage works will still have to be done, but with the estates closed that cost would have to be paid by the government,” Ramsammy said.
He maintained that the current administration’s policy is clear, as it has been in the days of the late Dr. Cheddi Jagan, who said then that the industry would be privatized “over my dead body.”
“The PPP/C (People’s Progressive Party / Civic) has been consistent in this regard; and while we feel that the private sector is the engine of growth, we also feel that one size does not fit all, and GuySuCo should be owned by the people of Guyana,” Ramsammy said.
He noted that the current administration supported privatisation in the 1990’s as a means of disabling the “commanding heights”, as he put it, but even then did not consider privatising the sugar industry.
“We have to continue to build this industry,” Ramsammy posited.
Granger has indicated that under his administration, the privatisation of nationally owned companies, like GuySuCo, will continue.