–Dr Leslie Ramsammy

AGRICULTURE Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy contends that the Opposition is seemingly “clueless” when it comes to the operations of the sugar industry.In an invited commentpertaining to what he dubbed “confusion being peddled by the Opposition in the last few weeks, Dr Ramsammy said: “First, Mr. Tony Vieira, at an official APNU (A Partnership for National Unity) media briefing, speaking as an expert in agriculture on behalf of APNU, proposed to replace sugar cane cultivation with tilapia production, which he claims will be a more profitable exercise than the production of sugar.
“Every media house in Guyana reported this story, and Mr. Vieira actually referred all the reporters to a website where this proposal is in writing. This is not my imagination, but this is what the news people actually reported.

“I also read and heard Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan, the Leader of the AFC (Alliance For Change), giving unequivocal and unrestrained support to APNU’s position.
“The media houses in Guyana widely reported Mr. Ramjattan’s position. You cannot produce sugar from tilapia, so the proposal of replacing sugar cane with tilapia essentially means closing down the sugar industry. Mr. Vieira indeed had a long letter in the media, detailing his tilapia proposal.
“After I rejected this proposal, both APNU and AFC claimed that they never made proposals to replace sugar cane with tilapia. They claimed they made proposals for the transformation of the industry.”

ETHANOL PRODUCTION
On the proposal of ethanol production, voiced by both APNU’s Carl Greenidgeand the AFC’s Moses Nagamootoo, the minister explained that the now revised planfor the sugar industry, craftedby the combined Opposition,is to replace sugar with tilapia, or with ethanol, or with both tilapia and ethanol, but it is a misguided plan.
He said, “APNU and AFC, clearly overjoyed (by) the difficulties GuySuCo (the Guyana Sugar Corporation) is presently facing, are making wild proposals as solutions to GUYSUCO’s woes.I do concede that GuySuCo has several difficulties that they must address and find quick solutions (for). The Government and the Corporation are working to find a way forward, and we are confident that these difficulties will be reduced and overcome.”
The minister made it clear that there are plans for the production of ethanol in Guyana, within and outside of the sugar industry.He said, “We do see GuySuCo as a producer of ethanol in the near future, but as a by-product from excess molasses. It is for this reason that the prototype bio-ethanol plant was established at Albion Sugar Factory. It is the reason also (why) we are looking to introduce ethanol-blended fuel for automobiles in Guyana, creating an internal market for this important agro-fuel.
“While our approach is to address the difficulties, APNU and AFC, outside of recommending closure of the sugar industry, is proposing changing one product with another. This is not a solution to GUYSUCO’s problems. Indeed, the mere substitution of one product for another, using the same feedstock, will not solve the problem.
“Moreover, any switch to ethanol production will require massive investment for new infrastructure. In addition, the cost of production using sugar cane directly or sugar as feedstock for ethanol production will be prohibitive and not cost-effective.”
Ramsammy maintained that GuySuCo’s current approach of introducing ethanol as a by-product from sugar production is the most viable one and we will not be distracted by the misguided approach of our opponents.
He said, “I can quickly dismiss once again the proposal for replacing sugar cane cultivation with tilapia. No sound-minded Guyanese accept this proposal and most Guyanese reject it as a plan of a warped mind. In dismissing this proposal, I am reiterating the PPP/C’s position that sugar remains an important part of our economy long into the future.
“Nothing in our position means that ethanol production is not a part of Guyana’s development plan. Nothing in our position diminishes the significance of aqua-culture in the agriculture strategy. We already have almost 3,000 ha of aqua-culture farms in Guyana and we are improving production and establishing conditions for export of cultivated fish, including tilapia and tambacqui.”
MISGUIDED
Ramsammy reiterated his position that APNU and the AFC are misguided,and he said their action demonstrates why, under the People’s National Congress (PNC) in the 1980s, the sugar industry was on the verge of collapse.
The Agriculture Minister said, “They are confused and are trying to promote confusion, trying to take advantage of the difficult circumstances that GuySuCo is presently in.
“The proposals by APNU and AFC disregard the welfare of sugar workers, and would have dire consequences for Guyana’s economy and social development.
“I therefore again unequivocally reject the proposals to either close down GuySuCoor substitute sugar with another product, be it tilapia or ethanol or any other product APNU and the AFC might want to recommend.”
He acknowledged that the Government is aware of the challenges and are working to address the problem areas.Ramsammy said, “We are aware that the factories outside of Skeldon also require enhancement, yet the greatest part of our difficulties have been the reliable and adequate supply of feedstock for the factories.
“This is a matter that is presently engaging the Corporation, and we are confident that the difficulties with ensuring a reliable and adequate feedstock supply will be resolved in the coming months.
“In the meantime, we note with guarded optimism the improved production for the short period GuySuCo has operated in 2014.Production levels have surpassed 30,000 tons for the crop so far, and as long as the weather permits, GuySuCoshould be able to maintain a good production level.
“We commend the employees of GuySuCofor the efforts made so far in 2014. We assure them that we stand in solidarity with the sugar workers.”
Minister Ramsammy also stressed that the current Administration will build sugar to be stronger, not curtail or end sugar, as our colleagues in APNU and the AFC would like to see.”

VIABLE PLAN
The minister said the GuySuCo 2020 plan remains a viable and sound one.
“We will continue to produce sugar, in bulk form and as packaged sugar, as our primary commodities. We will continue to be the supplier of molasses for use in the production of rum, and we have begun to test the use of molasses for the production of bio-ethanol as another value-added by-product out of the operation of GuySuCo,” Ramsammy said.
He explained that GuySuCo’s plan, while delayed in terms of full implementation, has been to have an industry that focuses on the production of:
* At least 450,000 tons of sugar by 2020 (this is a shift in the original date);
* Packaged sugar with production target of about 50,000 tons by 2016, and a further increase by 2020;
* Processed sugar by 2020;
* Molasses for the production of rum and other commercial products.This is an ongoing mandate; and
* Bio-Ethanol: this is the newest product in the value-added by-products of the sugar industry. A prototype plant has been established, and we see the production of bio-ethanol as an important by-product for the sugar industry by 2020.”
Ramsammy said, “APNU/PNC and AFC have taken a position to end sugar. Essentially, whether it is their proposal to replace sugar cane with tilapia or the proposal to produce ethanol instead of sugar, they have taken a position to end sugar production in Guyana.”
The minister stressed that the position of the current Administration is clear, and sugar is here to stay.
He said, “Sugar production, whether bulk, packaged or processed, will remain the main business of GuySuCo. Even with the present difficulties, we will remain focused as we continue to build the sugar industry. We will not replace sugar as the primary commodity produced by GuySuCo.
“…we are confident that the goal of 450,000 tons of sugar is realistic, and that we will attain this goal before 2020. We recognize that producing 450,000 tons of sugar will mean that Skeldon factory will have to function better than it is today.”
Ramsammy added that GuySuCo and the sugar industry are important for Guyana’s continued economic and social improvement.

(By Vanessa Narine)