MOSES NAGAMOOTOO WRITES:
"Efforts to Rescue Sugar: The industry was bankrupted by the Jagdeo-Ramotar-Raj Singh Gang, who left no money to pay sugar workers. Many people feel that this Gang must be investigated and jailed, if found culpabable, for their economic crimes against an estimated 60,000 persons who directly and indirectly depend on the industry for a living.
Jagdeo poured $47 billion into the Skeldon factory to modernize and rehabilitate it. Another $17 billion was voted by parliament to bail the industry out from bankruptcy. No proper audit has been done into where the $64 billion went. In the meantime, the Gang sold off sugar cane lands to their friends and cronies and hive off the co-generation (electricity from bagasse) operations for US$30 million.
Money was poured on Guysuco like water on a duck's back.
In government just a few days ago, we were told that the old Gang had set up the sugar industry for closure, so we get the blame. This infuriated me as a criminal set up, and I called for the CEO and Board to be fired. They must also be investigated and face justice!
In the meantime, your new government worked over time to find sources for funding of the industry to prevent closure. Funds were sourced from Jamaica as advance on payment amounting to $400 million, and European Union grant was identified for more emergency funding. These are only short term measures as the sugar industry still remains on the critical list, having been crippled by the PPP/C gang.
Sugar workers must not only take note of this betrayal they must condemn the theft of their NIS contributions and their welfare funds.
They must also demand an immediate shake up in Guysuco.
In the meantime, agriculture Minister Noel Holder and I continue to search together for all assistance that could bring relief to the sugar industry, which resulted in talks with Indian and Cuban officials."