onfusion reigns in Govt: Jordan, Holder say GuySuCo not their responsibility

 

 

Confusion in the Government is yet again evident as Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan contradicts a Cabinet colleague by claiming that the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) was never his responsibility.
His comments contradict statements made by the Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder who pointedly told reporters sometime back that he is no longer responsible for the affairs of GuySuCo. Holder made the remarks in much frustration when he was asked questions pertaining to the industry.

 

“GuySuCo has been removed from the ambit of Agriculture to the Minister of Finance, I don’t want to speak out of term,” Holder said.

The Agriculture Minister indicated that the estates that were closed as well as those that were kept alive were no longer his responsibility.

President of the Guyana General Agriculture Workers Union (GAWU), Komal Chand had told Citizens’ Report that Minister Holder told him not to picket his Ministry as GuySuCo is now under the control of the Finance Ministry.

Even the government’s public relations machinery reported that GuySuCo is no longer under the Agriculture Ministry’s purview.

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But, Jordon told reporters on Monday that GuySuCo is not his responsibility, that it never was.“The Ministry of Finance has tremendous responsibilities; we don’t need an extra one to be quite honest with you.”

Jordan explained that the Finance Ministry is only lending support to the Sugar Company during this time of transition.

The closed estates are under the remit of the Special Purpose Unit of the National Industrial Commercial and Investments Limited (NICIL). This Unit is responsible for managing the divestment of GuySuCo’s assets.

In invited comments, Opposition Parliamentarian, Mr. Mohabir Anil Nandlall raised some concerns over this arrangement. He explained that the SPU is not only encumbering the assets of GuySuCo, but will be disposing by way of sale on a wide scale manner both the moveable and immovable remaining assets.

“I have already pointed out that the entire asset base of GuySuCo has been transferred to the SPU and therefore, alienated beyond the reach of GuySuCo’s creditors. This is both unfair and exploitative!” he stated.

Nandlall explained that GuySuCo owes billions to workers as severance as well as to contractors for goods and services sold and delivered. In addition, he said GuySuCo guaranteed loans to commercial banks on behalf of privates cane farmers.

Nandlall warned that if the proposed actions of the SPU are not challenged quickly, all the assets of GuySuCo will either be encumbered or alienated and the workers and creditors will be left without any assets to enforce any judgment which they may obtain against GuySuCo.