GUYSUCO quite correctly has appealed to workers to cooperate in its bid to optimise production for the first crop which is nearing conclusion. According to the corporation, present production stands at about 104,622 tonnes of sugar which is the highest first-crop production in eight years, but still well short of the target in the vicinity of 130,000 tonnes.
Perhaps the corporation would have been able to achieve its target or come very close to it, but unfortunately, the weather again was unkind to it. Nevertheless, the performance of the industry has been much improved and both workers and management must be commended on this note.
“It is a fact that the industry has been significantly hampered by the wet weather during various periods of the crop, including currently. However, there is need on the part of workers to maximise the opportunity days available for harvesting to add as much as possible to their achievement thus far,” GUYSUCO said.
What has been noticeable during this first crop even though there has been a number of instances of industrial action by workers, the industrial relations climate generally has been more amicable and conducive to production, unlike the recent past when there was a somewhat hostile atmosphere which led to many unfortunate strikes and worker/management confrontations which obviously severely disrupted production.
Another significant factor during this crop is, there was an ample supply of canes which undoubtedly helped tremendously in  improved production. Inadequate supply of canes in the previous crops was a significant setback.
“Currently, three out of our seven factories are operating, these being Albion, Enmore and Wales. Workers from Skeldon and Rose Hall are assisting with harvesting at Albion, workers from Blairmont are assisting with harvesting at Enmore which also includes estate workers from LBI and workers from Uitvlugt are harvesting at Wales. The ongoing wet weather has completely ruled out any harvesting at Skeldon due to its dependence on mechanisation,” the corporation explained.
What is evident is that the management team headed by CEO Paul Bhim is doing a good job and is better grappling with the burning issues and problems affecting the industry than previous teams in recent times. This will certainly augur well for the turnaround of the industry which is of vital importance not only for the industry, but for the national economy and living standards of sugar workers as well.
While at this stage one cannot predict how close to the target the corporation would come, it is clear that it would fall short by a large margin.
So the foundation has been set for the achievement of the 300,000-tonne annual target  and barring any unforeseen circumstances during the second crop a 200-tonne target should be achievable.

“The importance of this cannot be understated as it would significantly improve the finances of the corporation and as a result the workers themselves,” GUYSUCO noted.
What is crucial to the achievement of the annual target is the weather and stable industrial relations. Of course,no one has control of the former, while with the latter  a partnership approach is needed with reasonableness  and fairness on the part of both the workers/union and management.
Workers currently are of the perception they alone are making sacrifices for the improvement of the industry and management needs to match their efforts. This perception needs to be dispelled forthwith or else it could put a brake on the current progress.
What is clear is that the survival and prosperity of the industry is not an option. It is an imperative and as such the responsibility lies in the hands of all stakeholders.