PERHAPS, now is as good a time to talk ‘reality’ to the Albion sugar workers and examine whether the existing management is really competent to run this industry.
Many in the opposition believe that sugar is dead and it should not be subsidised, but sold to a private company. The government has constantly tried to keep this industry alive due to its overall contribution to the economy and the jobs it provides. Unfortunately, the workers and management seem to believe that this support is unending regardless of their actions. Is this Guyana’s version of America’s “Too Big to Fail” corporation, due to government massive investment?

Is the US$6,000 per day penalty for shipping less than the wages demanded by the striking workers?
Are those workers striking in sympathy prepared to see the industry fail and lose their own jobs due to a failure by a few to compromise?
How many of these workers have been absent during critical periods, without repercussions. Management pointed out that extreme rainy periods, compounded by the strike actions, have been a major constraint hurting the sugar corporation and GuySuCo’s from achieving a self sustaining operation.
Is it time to reconsider whether the industry should be down side and/or reconfigured more towards repackaging ethanol, alternative energy, and private cane farming? The current dream of full production by the Skeldon factory appears at least distant.