— Agriculture Minister Ramsammy
-poor communication blamed for misunderstanding among workers
AGRICULTURE Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy has given all assurance that the annual production incentive (API) will be paid to sugar workers by March 16, as was decided initially. He made this announcement yesterday during an interview with the media, wherein he disclosed that the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) was working towards producing two hundred and sixty-five thousand tonnes of sugar for 2012, and major disruptions could affect this.
The minister said that under his leadership and that of other authorities, strategies are being implemented to eliminate the slightest of problems that may arise to create discrepancy.
“Any disruption would affect the industry. The industry has a target of two hundred and sixty-five thousand tonnes, and any disruption would affect our ability to achieve that target. And I’m hoping that we could resolve all of these issues as quickly as possible.”
Minister Ramsammy explained that work has resumed at the various estates, and the few minor issues would be ironed out in due time. “The disruptions with several estates over the weekend were short disruptions, and I’m glad that the workers in most of those estates are back at work… It was related to the Annual Production Incentives.”
Minister Ramsammy said that constraints faced by GuySuCo caused delay in paying the API at the pre-arranged time. He added that this setback was expected to be explained to workers, but a possible communication barrier between the workers and the various representatives at the affected estates across the country may have caused the misunderstanding.
“The API was earned for the production last year, about seven days’ pay; and that should have been paid as soon as the (last) year ended, but because of the constraint that GuySuCo had, it had agreed that it will pay (the API) on March 16.”
Dr. Ramsammy said it is his hope that the situation will remain minimal, since it could be a negative factor with regards to the timely production of sugar, thus creating a major setback for the industry.
“I’m hopeful that we would have the patience that, on the 16th, GuySuCo will pay, and that will resolve that issue of API. I understand the workers need to be paid the API, and (I understand) their actions to ensure that they are paid as early as possible. I’m hoping that, if the disruption continues until the 16th, it will be minimal; so I’m working to ensure that we keep as much harmony in the sector.”
Presently, he said, focus is on creating the right environment to ensure there is little or no disruption in the sector. “If we don’t produce we won’t get the target that we are working towards, and things won’t be done in a timely manner. So (focus is on) creating the right environment to make sure that we have as little disruption as possible. Workers went on strike for the API. I’m not sure if their representative has not informed them of the date (the API would be paid). Those workers are back (on the job). Same thing at Albion, (Same) also at Skeldon, at Blairmont and Uitvlugt; but (at) Blairmont it wasn’t just the API, (there were) other matters that we are attempting to solve at this time.”
During last week and over the weekend, hundreds of workers from several sugar estates decided to take matters into their own hands and call a strike to protest non payment of the API.
Minister Ramsammy said GuySuCo’s target of 265,000 tonnes is reachable, despite setbacks the industry had experienced. It is still early in the grinding season, and operations have begun at other factories.
Earlier in the month, GuySuCo’s Chief Executive Officer, Paul Bhim, informed that grinding had commenced at three estates – Uitvlugt, Blairmont and Albion. He had said that Wales, Skeldon and Enmore were soon to begin grinding, and had confirmed that grinding would have soon begun at the remaining estates.
“The crop is still not yet in full swing, but operations at the estates are expected to settle down by next week,” Bhim has stated.