Written by N. AUGUSTUS
HOW long can the government continue to hope while subsidising GUYSUCO with taxpayers’ money that it will live up to the expectations raised years ago and become self-sustaining? The latest reports quoted GAWU as saying that sugar targets that have been set by GUYSUCO over the years are “far from reality” since the industry is poised to record its lowest yield in 22 years.  They expect GUYSUCO will incur a loss that will have serious effects on its ability to do important capital works and pay creditors who supply them with materials for the next crop.  How can we trust GUYSUCO to implement any turnaround plan? It is time for an honest re-evaluation of the problems and a need for a new management structure if the Guyanese people are to believe that their taxes should be used to implement yet another plan, using the same people.

It is time for government to start treating the industry as a patient with the flu that just needs some medicine and rest, not as a patient that is failing and may be in  need of one or more organ transplants.
A plan is wanted that will re-evaluate the entire industry from where it is to where it has to go, and plan immediate, intermediate and long-term steps to accomplish each step. Confront the excuses, labour shortages/absenteeism, cane supplies, weather and factory problems and stop simply using them to explain the failures to date.
It may be better to hire better managers and pay higher wages to attract better attendance or temporary workers to address current problems, until a realistic plan can be implemented. Perhaps, a selling of some parts of the industry to private investors who have the money and know how may help save the whole industry.  GoG must make realistic and hard decisions, not political ones. In the long run, the right decisions will benefit everyone. Sugar needs more workers to get more canes, even if temporarily from outside of Guyana, if feasible, or the industry will continue to suffer and bleed the treasury, until all subsidies are stopped.