GENERAL Secretary of Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), Mr. Seepaul Narine said it is calling for an investigation into what he described as the “dismal production” of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo). Speaking in a recent telephone interview with the Guyana Chronicle, he said the industry has had a year when it recorded the lowest output since 1991 and continues to under produce for seven consecutive years.
He pointed out that the corporation was unable to meet its annual target even though it was revised three times, beginning at 265,000 tonnes, it was first reduced in August to 236,310 then, in September, increased to 241,000 and, more recently, in November, lowered, again, to 231,072.
Agriculture Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy and GuySuCo management had said the main reason for the downfall has been a prolonged rainy season.
However, Narine maintained that bad weather cannot be blamed. He agreed there was a bit of it coming down to the end of the last crop but emphasised that was not throughout the year, so as to hinder producing in a major way.
Asked about labour concerns, he said the corporation cannot complain about that since it is the same as it has been before and, in fact, was even better during some weeks.

Downward trend
Narine said, instead, the downward trend in production is as a result of the industry not having sufficient sugar canes. He claimed that some estates started reaping from the next crop in an attempt to meet the target.
The union’s bi-monthly publication, Combat, in its November/December 2012 issue stated, in an article headlined ‘Another dismal year for sugar’: “It has now been established that the industry hadn’t the quantity of canes to produce the sugar to meet any of its above mentioned targets without having to reap, in practically each estate, some of next crop’s canes.”
It declared that such a decision is not sensible since cane reaped before its maturity produces less sugar.
Narine stated, therefore, that an urgent investigation of the management of the industry and the decisions on crucial issues, which have been implemented for the past years, should be undertaken.
He said it is imperative that the industry secures competent expertise in cane growing so as to produce better quantities of canes with better yield which may help to save the country’s sugar industry.
Meanwhile, GuySuCo officials declined to release any information at present, pending the audit of production figures for 2012. The information is expected to be made available sometime in the near future, once the auditing exercise is completed.