“WILL YOU close sugar, yes or no?” Agriculture Minister and People’s Progressive Party/ Civic member, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, was unequivocal in demanding clarity from the political Opposition on the future of the sugar industry, in a recent public missive.

“For more than two years, I have asked our colleagues from APNU+AFC to tell us clearly – will you close sugar, yes or no. I have challenged them to tell us unequivocally – no ands, ifs or buts,” he said,
Unfortunately, Dr. Ramsammy said, he has not yet been able to get a clear answer from the political Opposition.
He said, “I cannot get a clear answer. Brigadier (rtd) David Granger told the Private Sector that ‘sugar is too big to fail’, repeating a PPP/C position but he also refuses to dissociate himself from a statement made early last year at an APNU media conference that called for closure of sugar and replacing it with tilapia. More recently, Stanley Ming called for closure of sugar too. Again David Granger refused to dissociate himself from this call to close sugar.”
As such, the Agriculture Minister is questioning his real position on the future of the sugar sector. “What is it? Will you close sugar or not? Come clean and tell us.”
He quipped that the answer may be found in what APNU+AFC has said is a leaked incomplete version of its manifesto.

NO CLARITY
Having reviewed the 46-page document, Dr. Ramsammy contends not only that the dismal contents forced the political Opposition to claim that it was leaked, but also that Guyanese will be disappointed.
He said, “Like their public position, their manifesto is the same, playing games with the question. First they presented a sugar plan – but the sugar plan is almost a 100 per cent reproduction from GuySuCo’s (Guyana Sugar Corporation) Business Plan.
“Yet the very next page they have this statement: ‘We believe that our sugar fields in Guyana are tailor-made for aquaculture. The farming of tilapia is proving to be lucrative’. The truth is they have a deeply entrenched position to close sugar. This is a disaster, many times worse than the closure of the Railway System in Guyana.”
If, according to him, “God forbid” the APNU+AFC plan were to be implemented and the farming of tilapia is pursued, the jobs of some 20,000 sugar workers will be on the line.
“Consider also that the most lucrative parts of DIH and DDL (rum production) will close too, leading to even more job losses, household cost of living will increase because local sugar prices will increase due to importation of sugar, cost of manufacturing in Guyana will increase, cost of drainage and irrigation will increase because GuySuCo presently provides the most extensive drainage and irrigation in Regions 3, 4, 5 and 6,” Dr. Ramsammy said.
All considered, the Agriculture Minister charged that APNU+AFC has an obsession with sugar and the political Opposition has constantly assaulted the sugar industry and sugar workers.
“They must be exposed,” he posited.
OBSENE ASSAULT
On that note, the PPP/C member turned his attention to what he termed the “obscene assault” on sugar workers and their families by the political Opposition.
“They continue to threaten to close sugar. No matter how they try to hide the truth their intention to close the industry continues to be revealed – the more they talk of sugar, the more the truth comes out,” he said.
Dr. Ramsammy added, “The assault became more obnoxious in a statement they made in their manifesto about sugar workers’ pay package being too large, accounting for 65 per cent of GuySuCo’s expenditure. Well will they cut the wages and salaries of the sugar workers?”
He stated that the question must be asked in light of the proposal by APNU+AFC to increase salaries for the military and police by some 20 per cent and another proposal for a 10 per cent increase in the remunerations paid to public servants.
“Despite these commitments, they made a point to emphasize that sugar workers’ pay package is too high….the AFC had promised a 20 per cent increase for sugar workers in 2011. But now that they have been absorbed into the PNC (People’s National Congress), which is disguised as APNU, the AFC has amnesia that they promised 20 per cent increase to sugar workers,” Dr. Ramsammy lamented.
PRETENSE UNVEILED
The collaboration between APNU and AFC, before their February 14 alliance, during the days of the 10th Parliament was also highlighted by the Agriculture Minister.
“Their pretense of being independent is now ended. We remember them working with APNU to block any support to sugar throughout the 10th Parliament,” he said.
According to Dr. Ramsammy, both recent events and historical facts paint a clear picture.
APNU, whose majority partner is the PNC, according to him, has a legacy where the welfare of sugar workers was never a priority.
“Off course the legacy of the PNC which now exists as APNU is one that punished sugar workers and one that froze salary increases for extensive periods of time when they were in Government. Let us not forget, either, that a public servant’s salary in 1992 was less than it was in 1964. In 1964, under the PPP, minimum salary in the public service was about US$60 per month. In 1992, under the PNC, minimum salary in the public service was US$23. Today it is US$210 under the PPP/C,” he said.
Consequently, he called for there to be a clear recognition of what APNU+AFC represents.
“Sugar workers beware, those who “sweet-mouthed” you in 2011 has again betrayed you. Now they make it no secret – they have targeted you for punishment. Not only do they plan to close sugar, they now want to start with cutting your pay,” Dr. Ramsammy warned.

‘What is it? Will you close sugar or not? Come clean and tell us… APNU+AFC has an obsession with sugar; they have constantly assaulted the sugar industry and sugar workers. They must be exposed’ – Dr. Leslie Ramsammy

‘They continue to threaten to close sugar. No matter how they try to hide the truth their intention to close the industry continues to be revealed – the more they talk of sugar, the more the truth comes out’ – Dr. Leslie Ramsammy

By Vanessa Narine