– PPP warns thousands will be on the breadline

The future of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) is yet to be decided although steps have already been taken by the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government in the direction of privatising the sugar company. This is according to the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary Clement Rohee. He disclosed such  while he was addressing media operatives at his Party’s press briefing on Monday about the PPP/Civic’s disapproval  of the recent appointment of Dr Clive Thomas as Chairman of GuySuCo. He stated that Dr. Thomas is quoted as saying “the sugar industry like the rice industry has to be privatised in order for it to function better because it was wrong of the previous administration not to do so.” The PPP/C does not believe that the Sugar Corporation will remain a state entity for much longer under this Administration regardless of the Commission of Inquiry undergoing into GuySuCo. “Steps have already been taken in this direction with the presence in Guyana of Tate & Lyle representatives. Guyana was once privatised and placed in the hands of Tate & Lyle,” Rohee explained. He noted that it was the principals of the same company, Tate & Lyle, which happen to be one of GuySuCo’s main buyers, who recently testified at the ongoing Commission. The PPP General Secretary said that these principals who include Vice President Duncan Tate, Allan Wood and Mac McLachlan had only recently stated that GuySuCo should look at lowering production costs. In fact, Tate & Lyle expressed their continued interest in buying Guyana’s sugar as the company reflected on its long productive association with Guyana. Unfortunately, with recent developments, the sugar market has become very volatile in Europe and the primary consideration presently is the market price. With the removal of the prices which African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries like Guyana enjoyed, the developing situation dictates that producers have to be more efficient and that demands disciplined management. They noted that the price situation is bound to become even more complex for Guyana when the cap on beet sugar production is deregulated. It was advised that the European Union (EU) will be dominated by beet sugar, and cane sugar will have to compete with beet. Even in countries that are major producers of cane sugar, some factories have been closing. Further, Tate & Lyle had emphasized that the cost of production must be brought down to be competitive.