– GAWU complains of being left in the dark

THE Guyana Sugar Corporation’s plan of action for diversification of the Wales Sugar Estate is on schedule, but the union representing sugar workers, GAWU, is complaining of being in the dark.According to a release from the Ministry of Agriculture, diversification into other agricultural activities remains an important pillar of its plans for national development, since it serves as an enabling environment for more job opportunities.

“Given the current trends (wherein) countries are being forced to adapt to economic and climatic changes to thrive, Guyana remains well on track”, the MoA said.

According to the release, Agriculture Minister Noel Holder and the team formed to craft GuySuCo’s diversification programme met with the Corporation’s management at the Wales Estate. The objective of the visit was to obtain a first-hand look at progress made thus far in relation to the diversification plan for the industry, using Wales Estate as the model location.

Minister Holder assured that the plan of action for implementation of the diversification programme is on schedule. “The team has been working tirelessly to ensure that the plan comes to fruition incorporating all of the avenues for development…. One of the most effective ways for agriculture to adapt to climate change is to increase its resilience, and I am pleased with the progress made thus far,” he said.

The team met with GuySuco CEO Errol Hanoman and other GuySuCo officials, including Raymond Sangster (General Manager, Agriculture Services), Jevedra Komal (Environmental Manager), Davindra Kumar (Administrative Manager), and Harold Davis, who serves as a consultant attached to GuySuCo.

The diversification team comprised several officials, including Permanent Secretary in Ministry of Agriculture, George Jervis; and Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA), Nigel Cumberbatch.

Chief Executive Officer of the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), Dr. Oudho Homenauth, and Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) Country Representative Wilmot Garnette, were also part of the team.

Meanwhile, GAWU, in a statement on Friday, expressed surprise at the sugar corporation’s plans to cultivate rice at Wales, which the union said it was made aware of via newspaper reports. According to GAWU, in January this year, when GuySuCo officially communicated to the Union its decision to close Wales Estate, the sugar corporation advised that new ventures would be established at the West Bank Demerara estate, and that the Union would accordingly be appraised.

“In spite of that commitment, GuySuCo did not even inform our Union or the workers about their plans, much less (share) their ideas and intentions and solicit the GAWU’s contribution,” GAWU said.

The union said, “Shunning the workers and the Union represents another blunder by the top management of the corporation and their advisors.”

GAWU made reference to the corporation’s ‘Other Crops Division’, of which rice cultivation was featured. It said the investment was costly and it was later abandoned after it had been deemed unsustainable and unprofitable.

GAWU has deemed the plans for rice cultivation ill-considered; adding that only a small fraction of the displaced workers would be absorbed.

According to GAWU, the matters relative to the Wales Estate can be overcome through a knowledgeable management, a motivated work force, and adequate financial support for a limited period.