Ramsammy challenges Opposition to act in national interest
MINISTER of Agriculture, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy has challenged opposition party members not to use “political opportunism” to get in the way of national interest and national development. He was responding to recent actions by members of the Alliance  For Change (AFC), who have been visiting sugar estates where there were strikes and talking to workers about their problems, over the past few weeks.
According to Ramsammy, such actions are counter productive and could jeopardise the functioning of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), if the issues are not understood.
He said he would want to think that his colleagues in the AFC and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and others have the same interest, that they can make GuySuCo successful, so that all of Guyana will benefit.
“We should come together and work and I would urge my colleagues in the AFC to not utilise political opportunism to get in the way of national interest and national development,” Ramsammy appealed.
He acknowledged the “stellar efforts” of GuySuCo’s management in trying to deal with the myriad of issues that exist and praised them for engaging the workers and addressing their problems, even in the face of constraints, while praising the workers for their patience.
Ramsammy said: “They have done a good job but there is still room for improvement. We need to work together. Right now, you have workers that are totally committed, putting in every ounce of energy they have. You have managers that are doing so and then you have others who may have genuine interest or opportunistic interest.”
Imperative
Given the importance of the sugar industry, it is imperative that all stakeholders work together to ensure that the sector continues to thrive and build the country’s economy for generations to come, Ramsammy emphasised.
In light of this, he expressed the hope that there will be cooperation, even in the face of controversies and disputes, so that the sugar industry will continue to prosper and achieve set targets.
Ramsammy pointed out that the leader of the AFC, Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan never called nor spoke to him about the sugar industry or the concerns raised by the workers and, as such, was not helping to safeguard its functioning.
He said: “I do give credit to Dr. Rupert Roopnarine, from APNU, who went into Blairmont and left after calling me. I give him credit for that, but APNU is also using political opportunism, so I’m not excusing them. They are also part of the problem.”
Ramsammy said, at no time, has the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), over the years of struggling to revive the industry, ever undervalued the concerns and grievances of the workers but has and will continue to find a way of reducing them.
“I say to my friends and colleagues in the AFC that I will hope that national interest comes above your own narrow political interest, that your foray into the industry is welcome but it must be constructive. Your foray in the industry right now is a blatant example of political opportunism,” the Agriculture Minister reiterated.
In closing, he maintained that cooperation is imperative if the sugar industry is to thrive, not only today but in the future, to serve all the citizens of Guyana irrespective of which party they support.
“We need to make sure that whoever is in government that they inherit an industry that is meeting its goals and is part of transforming Guyana. This has to be something that all persons embrace.”
Despite the recent setbacks, Minister Ramsammy said he remains optimistic that GuySuCo’s 2012 production target, of 256,000 tonnes of sugar, will be met.