The Chronicle editorial puts up front a few salient points about the sugar industry, which should be noted and acted on by government without fear or favour. We cannot continue to subsidise anything whether sugar, bauxite or electricity etc with public funds indefinitely, except for the poor, the needy or to promote job-creating projects. The salient points are the need to fill the labour shortages, and that a turnout average of 54% is not only disastrous but unacceptable, if the industry is to justify past or future expenditures by government. It must be made clear to the workers that if there are not enough workers needed to meet the industry’s goals, then workers from other parts of Guyana or outside must be recruited. There may be no jobs for anyone if the industry is not an economically viable investment. These facts should be presented to the union and a way  found to recruit workers from whatever sources are available to fill critical shortages, instead of missing opportunities to meet stated goals.
 
Both workers and politicians must learn from what is happening overseas where jobs and benefits are being destroyed due to past excesses in business and government spending beyond their means.  There would be even greater workers’ unrest if no one has a job and the nation loses a big revenue source that helps to finance other projects.
A possible greater incentive for workers and potential workers would be a bonus for meeting annual goals/attendance and or a profit-sharing plan when any profit(?) exceeds a stated amount. It is time for the government and workers to understand it is not the politicians’ money but the taxpayers’ money at risk.