…President tells PNCR conference gov’t will do everything to keep GuySuCo alive

PRESIDENT David Granger on Saturday told members of the People’s National Congress Reform that his administration was not shutting down the sugar industry, but rather retooling it to make it more robust and viable.

He made the comments at the party’s second General Council meeting for the year held at Congress Place, Sophia, Greater Georgetown. President Granger who only just returned from a four-day visit to the United Kingdom during which he met Queen Elizabeth 11 and other top leaders,  in delivering the feature address at the General Council covered a wide array of issues including a report on his recent visits to The Bahamas and the United Kingdom.

According to a PNCR statement, the party leader asked that in commemoration of the PNCR’s Diamond Jubilee every region (the party region) must engage in an economic venture. He called for regional trade fairs and regional agricultural and commercial exhibitions in all 10 administrative regions to promote women and youth employment, agro-processing and economic development of the regions.

GuySuCo
On the issue of GuySuCo, in addressing the current situation within the industry President Granger said that the sugar industry in Guyana as currently configured is not sustainable. “We are not shutting down GuySuCo, we are consolidating…. we are going to make the sugar industry more muscular, more robust. We will do everything to keep GuySuCo alive… we want to save sugar workers’ jobs.”  Brigadier Granger said.  The party leader told the General Council that diversification of the economy was imperative “We have to diversify. We have to produce new commodities. We cannot continue to rely on the ‘six sisters’, (Sugar, rice, timber, bauxite, gold and diamonds).” Brigadier Granger said that he was impressed with many of the items that he had seen at recent regional trade fairs and called for better marketing and packaging of locally produced products.

Touching on the environment, President Granger iterated that the PNCR was committed to a green economy. “Global warming is no joke. We have to protect the environment. Miners must conduct their business in a responsible way; some miners are reckless and we have to put an end to that.” The President and party leader told the General Council that regions had a role to play in the protection of the environment. “Every region must have a protected area. We have to protect the environment so that our children can see and enjoy this beautiful and bountiful country we have inherited.” he said.

President Granger noted that social cohesion was about national unity and it was included in the objectives of the PNCR. “We have a responsibility to make sure that programmes are promoted to achieve cultural awareness and cohesion. We will extend recognition to every ethnic group in Guyana. We will treat our citizens with respect wherever they live…we are not going to discriminate based on geography or political affiliation.” Brigadier Granger said.
A lively plenary during the second session examined the party leader’s address, the General Secretary’s Report, plans for the party’s 60th anniversary and regional interventions. The General Council concluded with a summation and charge which was given by party leader and President, H.E.  David Arthur Granger. General Council is the second highest decision-making forum of the PNCR.

General Council, which was held under the theme: “PNCR — Vanguard of a Green Economy” was chaired by party chairman, Basil Williams, who welcomed the members of the General Council especially those who had travelled from the hinterland regions and overseas.  The chairman reminded attendees that as a governing party, “We have been given the mandate to take the nation forward and General Council has the opportunity to discuss how we [the PNCR] are going to do this.” He told attendees that the coalition was committed to putting the country first, engaging in good governance, and a return to the rule of law. The chairman urged party members to enhance their contact with the Guyanese people in all communities and to continue to work to bridge the coastland and hinterland divide.

A minute of silence was observed for party members who had passed away in the period between General Councils.  The general-secretary’s report was presented by Mr. Oscar Clarke, CCH, General- Secretary of the PNCR.  He brought General Council up to date with the state of the party’s Secretariat, the youth and women’s arm and all party regions (local and overseas) and the work of the Secretariat during the period between General Councils. The General- Secretary reported to the Council that the state of the party was strong, poised and prepared to participate fully in all events planned for the 60th Anniversary of the PNCR.