THE Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) has called on the government to provide a “clear plan” for the spending of the $30 billion bond for the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).

General Secretary of GAWU, Seepaul Narine said the union remains concerned that stakeholders have not seen a plan regarding the bond which government had borrowed for the revitalisation of the remaining sugar estates which fall under GuySuCo.

Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan had said that the bond would be used to acquire two co-generation plants; upgrade existing factories to produce plantation white sugar; to build storage and packing facilities; and to continue two years of general operational cost.

“There was no mention of investments in the cane fields to improve productivity. In April, this year, the then GuySuCo CEO, Paul Bhim in a GuySuCo/SPU engagement with GAWU told us that $11 billion would be spent on capital works across the three estates with about 70 per cent of that sum being utilised in the fields,” said Narine during a press conference on Friday.

The union which remains supportive of initiatives in co-generation and white sugar, said their success is largely predicated on having sufficient quantities of cane available.
The finance minister had also said that GuySuCo presented a plan to the administration to engender its viability.

“This is indeed noteworthy news from the minister. We recognised that President David Granger in his address to the National Assembly on October 18 said a plan is being developed to boost production in the remaining East Berbice, West Berbice and West Demerara estates,” said Narine.

GAWU remains supportive of plans which would secure the sugar industry and safeguard the viability but, he said their support is based on sound, credible and well-thought-out plans.

Sugar production at the end of last week was 103,511 tonnes of sugar, 509 more tonnes than the revised target for this year.