THERE is much hue and cry over many of the woes facing the sugar industry and according to Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuYSuCo), Raj Singh, the success of the sugar industry is linked in part to the coming on stream of more private cane farmers.Singh was speaking during a recent media engagement when he was asked about the current fortunes of the industry as it relates to cane supply.

He noted that the Skeldon Sugar Factory was commissioned with the intention of a third of all the cane required for the facility coming from private cane farmers.

PARTNERING WITH FARMERS

This has been working well, he said, pointing to an attempt at expansion at the Blairmount Estate through partnerships with private cane farmers.
“We believe strongly in partnering with farmers in this country across the industry,” said Singh.
Speaking about additional incentives for venturing into private cane farming, the GuySuCo CEO noted that the refineries which purchase the sugar, pays a premium to encourage farmers to get into sugar production.
“We see them as a critical partners and we will continue to work with then,” he added.

The comments by Singh were made at a time when Guyanese from all walks of life are engrossed in the elections campaign.

The incumbent People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) over the weekend released snippets of its 2015 Manifesto, Guyana Version 2.0, and included a promise to invest some $20B in the industry once re-elected to office.

The central themes of ‘Guyana 2.0’ include: Economic Growth: Jobs, Income & Wealth Creation; Transformative Infrastructure; Enhancing the Well-Being of Our People; Fighting Crimes & Protecting Our People; Fair Governance; and Guyana in a Modern World.
The preview of the PPP/C manifesto details a vast number of policies and measures centred on these themes and the supportive initiatives include:
* Supporting the sugar sector with a minimum investment of G$20B for the continued viability of the industry;
* The implementation of measures to improve financial intermediation and expand opportunities for ‘development type’ finance;
* Enacting legislation to liberalise the telecommunication sector and reduce the cost of voice and data services;
Establishing a National Rice Price Support System for farmers to ensure that payments are made within the legally required time frame and to assure the viability of the industry and wellbeing of our rice farmers;
* Creating a special development fund for Regions 2, 6 and 10 patterned, after the Amerindian Community Development Plan to encourage jobs and wealth creation activities;
* Establishing ICT parks and infrastructure across the country; and
* Enacting the Anti-Money Laundering/Counter Terrorism Legislation, among others.
Under ‘Transformative Infrastructure’, the flagship projects, for the incumbent includes the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project, remain on the cards, with other additions that include the Linden/Lethem/Brazil Road Corridor and a Deep Water Harbour.