–Dr. Luncheon
THE current spate of industrial actions in the sugar industry has gained the attention of Government and all stakeholders.
While the administration is doing all it can to ensure the viability of that sector, the reality remains that work is being stalled. Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon, had made numerous pronouncements on the issue, the latest being his response to claims that the Enmore Packaging Plant is a white elephant, as reported by some sections of the media.
At his last weekly press briefing, Dr Luncheon opined that the issue was being viewed from the aspect of continued industrial actions which are affecting production.
“I suspect that the allegations being brought to the fore of the industrial unrest in the sector (are) to perhaps lend weight to considerable investments that have been made in the sector,” he added.
In addition, he posited that the Enmore Packaging Plant is one of those entities being affected, but the major entity being affected was the Skeldon Sugar Estate.
“The conditions are most favourable: The cane is there and ready to be reaped; and indeed, (it) is not only the Enmore Packaging Plant that is being assailed by industrial unrest,” he explained. Actually, what are also being affected are the harvest for the crop and, of course, threat to the wellbeing (and) financial viability of GuySuCo, and the likelihood of spiralling impact on local communities as well as the economy of Guyana.
The HPS told the media earlier this year that Cabinet had taken notice of, and had addressed the spectre of continuing labour indiscipline and recurrent strikes in the sugar industry.
He said Cabinet was concerned that there was cane ready for harvesting at the estates but labour stoppages were a constant threat to targets and, ultimately, financial viability.
He referred to the antics of the parliamentary opposition parties who have been visiting worksites and addressing striking workers, thus encouraging them in  “unjustified and ill-advised pursuits”.
Government has expressed the view that there is need for mature minds to address sugar woes in Guyana, and has reiterated its call for interaction among all stakeholders in the interest of advancing the industry.
Recently, the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) slammed the Alliance For Change (AFC) for stirring dissension within and between sections of the workforce, and complicating a few issues that the workers were peeved with, hence placing additional strains and demands on the union to address and resolve workers’ issues.
FITUG said in a release said it viewed the AFC’s motivation as stemming from political expediency, especially as the AFC activists pay no attention to trade union structure and grievance and procedures.
This, Dr Luncheon believes, may have led persons to conclude that the Enmore Packaging Plant was not being utilised for its intended purpose.
On Monday May 9, the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) commissioned its US$12.5M Packaging Plant at Enmore, East Coast Demerara.  The plant was aimed at transforming sugar production, moving from the traditional sole output of raw sugar to the export of an additional 40,000 tonnes of packaged sugar per year initially.
Built by the Indian contractor Surendra Engineering Corporation, the packaging plant integrates some of the latest state-of-the-art processing facilities and equipment.
In later years, the factory would see production of packaged sugar rising from 80,000 tonnes per annum, allowing GuySuCo to enjoy a premium price for the value-added product in the international market.
The initiative was deemed as unwavering one that tackles the current challenges facing the industry, and to keep sugar alive.
Construction of a sugar refinery has been part of the state’s plans to modernise and diversify production of sugar.
Recent investments in this regard included the US$200M Skeldon Sugar Modernisation Project and mechanisation activities, which complement the Enmore facility.