THE President of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), Komal Chand, told hundreds of workers yesterday during FITUG’s annual May Day rally, that the turn-around of the sugar industry is dependent on the workers and management.He also underscored the optimism with which GAWU is viewing the future of the industry.
The GAWU Head made it clear that the Union does not see “eye-to-eye” with those who propose a closing down of the sector or a scaling back of operations, in favour of other activities, like aquaculture and ethanol.
“The sector will return to financial viability,” he said, adding that this process will be supported with the needed input of a “satisfied” workforce, financial resources, and management.
On that note, Chand restated his call for the appointment of a new Board of Directors at the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).
The life of the current Board was extended by six months to June 30 and the new Board’s appointment is not scheduled to come on stream until July 1.
Agriculture Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, in a prior statement explained that President Donald Ramotar is looking at a number of recommendations for “radical” changes.
He added that the Head of State is engaged in talking to people who have been recommended and assured that the focus is on persons who will bring experience to the industry, business and marketing, agronomy, mechanisation, because these are the issues the industry is battling.
“The President is discussing all of the options at hand….I believe the new Board will find favour with both sides of this House…we are trying to put together a professional board, and I do believe that GuySuCo needs and should have a professional board,” Ramsammy said.
The sugar industry is projected to record an improvement of 15.6 percent in output to 215,910 tonnes in 2014 and a whopping $6B has been allocated to the sector in the 2014 Budget, given the industry’s important role in national development.
Among the measures to be undertaken to ensure a turnaround of the industry, which the allocation addresses, are an increase in production and lower cost of production, diversified target markets, and expansion of value-added production in order to survive.
In 2013, sugar exports accounted for 8.3 percent of total exports valued at US$112.2M and the industry contributed 3.9 percent of the country’s GDP.

(Vanessa Narine)