Challenges in sugar industry can be fixed – Chand

The challenges being faced in the local sugar industry are not insurmountable and its success will redound to the benefit of the Guyanese economy and assure the employment of thousands of Guyanese.

This is the firm view of Komal Chand, who holds the dual role of Vice President of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) and President of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU).

Chand told workers at the recent May Day rally that it was disheartening to see the Government adamantly pressing ahead with its plan to minimise the industry and not recognising the consequences that it could create in Guyana.

He claims that plans being made for the industry are not in sync with the utterances of Government.

“The sad and disturbing reality, at this time, is that the Government seems intent on pushing thousands of ordinary, hardworking, decent Guyanese into a life of desperation and possibly depravity,” he said.

Chand maintains that Government should not pursue plans to rationalise the industry, as it may only add to the serious economic issues currently facing the country.

To substantiate his argument, the FITUG official said the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had recently advised Government to be “mindful of the large social impact” .

“FITUG shares the view that the industry can be turned around and be made viable and sustainable. We hold that the industry has possibilities for its sustenance and success,” he declared.

With a capable management and new innovative measures, Chand said the industry could make a significant turnaround, once Government remained committed to the task of keeping it open.

He said, “FITUG asks again how the State-owned GuySuCo knowing of the grim consequences can realistically condemn thousands to such misery and hardship.”

Impoverished state

In addressing some of the issues being faced in the local economy, Chand said the authorities should take measures to stop the economic decline, prevent the drop in citizens’ living standards, save workers’ jobs, stimulate our economy and put our country back on the track of development.

“We urge that the executive rescinds those measures which are pushing many Guyanese into an impoverished state and which are badly hurting the people, especially the poor and working people of our country,” he lamented.

Another issue of concern to FITUG was the Police denying GAWU permission to conduct a public march, which has been described as “an affront to freedom of expression”.

“We need to unitedly raise our voices when it is jeopardised, even as we advocate for its all-round enhancement,” Chand told a large audience at the National Park on Monday.

A draft white paper on the sugar industry’s future was submitted by Agriculture Minister Noel Holder to Cabinet for its consideration on Tuesday, April 18, 2017. Cabinet discussed the proposals and subsequently granted its approval for the document to be laid in the National Assembly.

The white paper follows a process of overhauling of the industry, which includes a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), and the subsequent setting-up of a special Task Force to look at options on the way forward for the sugar company.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan in his presentation of the 2017 Budget had indicated the status quo of the sugar industry could neither be sustained nor maintained.

According to him, as currently structured, the industry would require Government’s support to the tune of $18.6 billion and $21.4 billion for the years 2017 and 2018 respectively.

The Minister had explained that based on the CoI, it was concluded that any money injected into the sugar industry in its current state was money wasted.

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